Most Underrated General

[Mark F. Jenkins]

I guess my interest lies more in the direction of "who did well but is lesser-known for various reasons" than the might-have-beens.

 

[SKC]

Speaking of cavalrymen, one of the most under-rated generals is A J Smith

I must confess that I know little about A. J. Smith…during the Chickasaw Bluffs and Arkansas Post battles, did he command infantry or cavalry? Did he essentially start off as a cavalry commander, morphing into an infantry commander?

How about James Wilson as both an underrated general and a late bloomer?

He arguably deserves a fair bit of criticism for not properly patrolling the Orange Turnpike, allowing Ewell access to Meade's exposed right flank, effectively triggering the battle of The Wilderness (at least as we know it...). Although, to be fair, "someone" (Meade, Sheridan) probably should have ensured that more than just the AoP's smallest cavalry division was guarding Meade's flank.

 

[diane]

I must confess that I know little about A. J. Smith…during the Chickasaw Bluffs and Arkansas Post battles, did he command infantry or cavalry? Did he essentially start off as a cavalry commander, morphing into an infantry commander?

A J Smith was a colonel of the California Cavalry Volunteers when the war broke out and became cavalry commander of the Dept of Missouri. He did morph into infantry! Later he served as commander of the 7th Cavalry until Sturgis took the job and he retired - so he ended up back in cavalry. He had a lot of experience, unlike most West Pointers of the CW, with Indian fighting in Oregon and Northern California, so he was ready for an unorthodox opponent like Forrest.

 

[Elennsar]

Most underrated?

That's a tough one.

I'm going to say Bragg at least is on the list OF underrated.

I had a fun discussion with several folks on him versus Jackson here:

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/some-thoughts-on-stonewall-jackson-vs-bragg.18107/
I strongly recommend reading K Hale's and Nate's posts more than just mine as part of exploring that. Not because they agree with me (they largely didn't) but because it shines light on why I made the comparison in the first place.

Sufficient to say, while Bragg wasn't made of awesomeness and victor-ness, he did have his strengths, but he was a hell of a meanie as well as unsuccessful. And none of his strengths are the sort people ooo and aww over - although why McClellan is always listed as a great disciplinarian as if that's a major asset and no one ever gives Bragg credit for it bugs me.

Bragg deserves a C or a C-, not a F.

 

[ErnieMac]

Major General John A. "Black Jack" Logan. Commander of the XV Corps during the Atlanta Campaign, March to the Sea anf the Carolina Campaign. Final commander of the Army of the Tennessee. Logan was Grant's choice to replace Thomas at Nashville had Thomas not moved to attack Hood in December, 1864.

 

[LZRD WZRD]

One man that comes to mind is Ambrose Burnside. Many people hold him in the lowest regard for his poor performances at Antietam, Fredericksburg, and the Crater. However, the Crater was not really his fault (The Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War blamed the failure on Meade, not Burnside). Also, he did have success early in the war in North Carolina and then against Longstreet in the Knoxville campaign. I don't know if you can call Burnside a good general, but I think it's unfair to call him one of the worst generals (as so many have). For that reason, I think he is underrated.

 

[KILLroy1978]

Underrated. John B. Magruder. He went on to have a moderately successful career in Texas. The Battle of Galveston is considered his greatest victory.
I have heard that his assignment "out west" was because of a misunderstanding in his orders at Malvern Hill? I had also heard that he had requested to go to Texas. I am not sure about the second statement. Can anyone verify?

I would also like to nominate D.H. Hill. He was also "kicked to the minors" by Lee. Plus, when you have the President of the Confederacy disgusted with you it doesn't help your career.

 

[NedBaldwin]

I have heard that his assignment "out west" was because of a misunderstanding in his orders at Malvern Hill? I had also heard that he had requested to go to Texas. I am not sure about the second statement. Can anyone verify?

The order for him to go to the west was issued prior to Malvern Hill.

 

[AUG]

Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge. Despite being mostly a political general, Breckinridge did pretty well in the west with the AoT, as well as in the east at Cold Harbor and with Early in the Shenandoah.

Edit: I'd also nominate Trans-Miss. Texas cavalry commander Maj. Gen. Thomas Green. Definitely one of the most underrated cavalrymen of the war. He was largely responsible for the Confederate victories at Valverde (in the NM Campaign) and Galveston Bay. In the latter Green led a contingent of his Texas cavalrymen aboard the cotton clad steamer CS Bayou City, capturing the USS Harriet Lane and almost singlehandedly winning the battle. "Horse Marines", they were called after that. Yeah, he was that awesome.

Green went on to command the Sibley Brigade in Louisiana, later taking command of a small cavalry division and later a cavalry corps while serving under Richard Taylor. His Texans fought in a number of actions that go unknown to most today, including the the Bayou Teche Campaign, Texas Overland Campaign, and Red River Campaign. Unfortunately his reckless daring got him killed at Blair's Landing in the latter; like Green always lived, he died in the thick of the fight. Green was beloved by his Texans, and not just his horsemen but he was well known through all Texas at the time. He had quite the life before the war as well, having fought at San Jacinto, was active in Texas politics, served as a Texas Ranger, and fought in the Mexican War. All in all, he lived and died a Texan. So yeah, why anyone hasn't written a biography on Tom Green is beyond me.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

I'm going to nominate a virtually unknown fellow, Confederate Major General Edward C. Walthall,

He began his military service as a First Lieutenant of Company H, Fifteenth Mississippi Regiment, but his aptitude soon led to promotion. By June of 1861, Walthall was a Lieutenant-Colonel and his cool skill holding the defensive line at the Battle of Mill Springs in Kentucky earned him a colonel's rank in the Twenty-Ninth Mississippi. By December 1862, Walthall had obtained the rank of Brigadier General and again held a defensive position at the Battle of Chickamauga that permitted a retreat in good order. At the Battle of Nashville, the talented officer commanded the division that prevented yet another disastrous withdrawal. Participating in all the major battles from Missionary Ridge to Atlanta, Walthall rose to the rank of Major-General by June 1864.

http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/general_library/archives/finding_aids/MUM00462.html

 

[Jamieva]

Early, Gordon and Mahone are good ones. They really showed what they could do in 64 and 65 but their performances are overlooked because of the overall decline of the south's war effort in this time period. If they had risen through the ranks earlier it would've been interesting to see how they were perceived after the war, especially Gordon.

 

[damYankee]

under rated by whom?

 

[Elennsar]

I'm going to nominate a virtually unknown fellow, Confederate Major General Edward C. Walthall,

I'm not sure if Walthall's underrated or just unremembered, but he was a heck of an officer.

But (responding to the thread at large) I think Gordon, Mahone, and Early are given their due - no one denies their accomplishments and they're not as forgotten as guys like Walthall.

 

[Civil War Scholar]

Perhaps John Bell Hood and Jubal Early. Always did their best, fought valiantly against great odds.
Civil War Scholar.

 

[GELongstreet]

Nathan G. Evans, brigade commander and real hero of First Bull Run and winner at Ball's Bluff. Was sidelined because of drunkeness and disobedience. Underrated and unappreciated by his contemporaries it is an interesting thought about him leading a division in late 1861 and 1862; and making a difference with his work and influence in the ANV could have changed some things.

Franklin Gardner, known for his excellent (though finally unsuccessfull) defence of Port Hudson. Becoming a POW and serving in the Trans-Mississippi later we simply lack information about most of his work.

And Wade Hampton again. While he was successfull and is well known he nearly always gets the sidelined when somebody barely mentions Forrest or Stuart.


Probably have to add Oliver Howard to the list. Everywhere you hear the he and his men got whipped through the course of war. But take this with the constant changes of corps commanders in the Union army - and still he keeps his command and even moves up to command an army? Think what you want, but somebody must have seen something in him.

 

[Chattahooch33]

I think almost every brigade commander in the AoT could be underrated due to the "clique of 14 year old girls" that was the upper leadership of the AoT.
Ector, Walthall, Govan, Granbury, Lucius Polk, Gist, Cockrell, etc......

In the ANV I'm going with my buddy William T. Wofford, William Barksdale, and John Gordon.

For the Yanks James Wilson was a great choice by someone earlier. You can also throw in Lovell Rousseau for his raid that broke the Atlanta & West Point RR during the Atlanta siege.

 

[Civil War Scholar]

GE Longstreet and Chattahooch33,
I tend to agree with you. Except the point with Howard. He was surprised at First Manassas, hit hard at Seven Pines, was repulsed at Fredericksburg, outflanked at both Chancellorsville and Gettysburg and driven back at Pickett's Mill. What he has in an attempt to match those reverses, is Ezra Church, where part of the credit for the USA victory ought to go to Stephen Dill Lee's disobedience of Hood's orders.
Civil War Scholar.

 

[GELongstreet]

...
I tend to agree with you. Except the point with Howard..

But that's what I mean - incompetent corps commanders were frequently stripped of their command but somehow Howard was allowed to continue and lead an army ...

 

[Civil War Scholar]

I am puzzled, too. Perhaps because there were more inept commanders than Howard.
Civil War Scholar.

 

[JeffBrooks]

Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge. Despite being mostly a political general, Breckinridge did pretty well in the west with the AoT, as well as in the east at Cold Harbor and with Early in the Shenandoah.

You forgot to mention New Market, his greatest achievement as a soldier. Also, his punitive expedition into East Tennessee in late 1864 was quite an achievement and is almost entirely unknown, even by Civil War aficionados.