Most Zealous Confederate General

[Sheltowee]

Read an article that quotes Historian James A. Ramage saying of Duke "No Southerner was more dedicated to the Confederacy than General Basil W. Duke".

My first inclination was to say- "not so sure of that". But then again, Duke was with Davis on his desperate flight southward. Maybe so?

Anyway, curious who y'all would consider the general who was the most ardent supporter of the Confederacy?

 

[SWS]

General Robert Edward Lee... "If victorious, we have everything to hope for in the future. If defeated, nothing will be left for us to live for..."

 

[hughes]

R.E. Lee, certainly.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

Read an article that quotes Historian James A. Ramage saying of Duke "No Southerner was more dedicated to the Confederacy than General Basil W. Duke".

My first inclination was to say- "not so sure of that". But then again, Duke was with Davis on his desperate flight southward. Maybe so?

Anyway, curious who y'all would consider the general who was the most ardent supporter of the Confederacy?

I will nominate General Joseph E. Johnston, although I don't have a specific reason other than his service from start to end and his apparent dedication to the cause.

 

[peacefulanimalguy7]

I really doubt Lee was more dedicated than Duke. Lee was initially hesitant and only joined the Confederacy because of his family

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

My alternate choice: General Nathan Bedford Forrest, who said, "I've got no respect for a young man who won't join the colors."

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Thought it would be hard to surpass William Barksdale for zealousness as a Confederate general. His zealousness in the field matched his 'fire-eating' temperament. This was no better demonstrated than at Gettysburg on July 2, when Barksdale fatally led his Mississippi brigade in an assault against elements of Sickles's III Corps.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Will throw John B. Gordon into this mix for his aggressive fighting during extensive battlefield experiences, in which he was wounded at least seven times (five times at Antietam).

 

[Pollaco]

Jubal Early could be considered a Zealot.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

He certainly was postwar.

 

[Georgia Sixth]

Jo Shelby gets my vote. He refused to surrender and instead took off for Mexico. Ironically, many years later he deeply regretted having ever supported the confederacy.

 

[bamaman]

R.E. Lee, certainly.

Alonzo Cushing who fired his cannon for the last time while holding his guts in his hands!

 

[Stone in the wall]

Not sure how to really pass judgement on this, all the above are good choices and certainly rate a shot. Shelby seems to hold the title of "never surrendered." Jeb Stuart, true to his words-swore he would rather die than live in a defeated south. McClausland, Munford and others were game enough and escaped with their troopers to avoid surrendering at Appomattox.

 

[Sheltowee]

I think there may be two distinct classifications- the ideological zealot, and the circumstantial zealot.

The former fully embraced the confederacy from inception- fully committed to gaining an independent nation.
Whereas the latter, supported the movement due to initially reluctant necessity. In many cases, the circumstantial zealot became just as committed- as they recognized the die had been cast.

I would consider Lee's- and perhaps Breckenridge's- motivation more circumstantial, as both were initially hesitant.

I guess I am wondering more about the ideological example. Maybe Forrest?

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

I'd like to think it was States Rights Gist.

 

[elmira64]

Alonzo Cushing who fired his cannon for the last time while holding his guts in his hands!

Cushing was a lieutenant in the Federal Army.

 

[JerryD]

I think there may be two distinct classifications- the ideological zealot, and the circumstantial zealot.

The former fully embraced the confederacy from inception- fully committed to gaining an independent nation.
Whereas the latter, supported the movement due to initially reluctant necessity. In many cases, the circumstantial zealot became just as committed- as they recognized the die had been cast.

I would consider Lee's- and perhaps Breckenridge's- motivation more circumstantial, as both were initially hesitant.

I guess I am wondering more about the ideological example. Maybe Forrest?

I agree. I would think you need someone who was a fire eater and pushed hard for secession. Lee, Early and others opposed secession, but reluctantly went along when their states seceded.

First name that came to mind was Wade Hampton. South Carolinian, for one, and used his personal fortune to raise his Legion.

 

[bankerpapaw]

I will nominate General Joseph E. Johnston, although I don't have a specific reason other than his service from start to end and his apparent dedication to the cause.

Gen. Johnston was too quick to retreat - - - - -in my opinion.

 

[JerryD]

Gen. Johnston was too quick to retreat - - - - -in my opinion.

He also, in my opinion, often let his ego get in the way of what was best for the cause. Davis suffered the same habit as well.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

Gen. Johnston was too quick to retreat - - - - -in my opinion.

Sometimes so. He was an excellent defensive general. I understand his retreats in the Atlanta Campaign because of Sherman'd excellent flanking moves, BUT I believe Johnston was derelict at Vicksburg when he failed to support Vicksburg with an attack on Union forces early in the campaign when they had not become so numerically superior.