Polk or Hardee?

[Stryker65]

Both were extremely reliable corps commanders (Polk less so), and both had command of various large-scale army groups at different times (Polk, the Army of Mississippi; Hardee, the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida). Polk gets hammered a lot because of his tendency to play politics, and Hardee sometimes gets hammered for being too defensive. As far as I know, they never had an argument, but then again never really had a friendship.

Who do you think was the better commander, corps or otherwise?

 

[Pat Answer]

Bragg would have said Hardee, hands down!

 

[G Low]

I know who @HatEnjoyer would chose

 

[G Low]

Both were extremely reliable corps commanders (Polk less so), and both had command of various large-scale army groups at different times (Polk, the Army of Mississippi; Hardee, the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida). Polk gets hammered a lot because of his tendency to play politics, and Hardee sometimes gets hammered for being too defensive. As far as I know, they never had an argument, but then again never really had a friendship.

Who do you think was the better commander, corps or otherwise?

I'm just guessing but Gen. Hardee was a by the book man, and Bishop Polk tended to preach way too much. I wonder if Polk hadn't been killed would they have been a great team. With Hardee's grip on tactics and Polks ability to lead men…..

 

[Jamieva]

Hardee no contest. Not sure I would call Polk reliable, unless reliable means you can rely on him not to do what he was ordered to do.

 

[Sheltowee]

Hardee no contest. Not sure I would call Polk reliable, unless reliable means you can rely on him not to do what he was ordered to do.

Amen….

 

[JeffBrooks]

I would say Hardee every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

There is no close comparison of them, as corps commanders.

Don't think Polk even made the grade of 'mediocrity' for competency as a corps commander. He supposedly had a positive morale effect on the men, though. But there's more to being an effective corps commander, than morale effects.

Hardee was a competent corps commander and arguably the best Confederate corps commander in the western theater. In my view, he was a suitable candidate for army command, but he didn't want it as a permanent role.

 

[jackt62]

Hardee was a competent corps commander and arguably the best Confederate corps commander in the western theater.

I agree. There was a reason his nickname was "Old Reliable."

 

[ivanj05]

Polk is quite literally one of the worst corps level commanders either side of the ACW ever produced.

 

[Stryker65]

I don't know what I was thinking.

 

[G Low]

What were the Yankees thinking when they literally cut Polk in half? Hardee looks like he could be Beauregard's uncle or cousin.

 

[TallTallMan]

 

[Sheltowee]

I don't know what I was thinking.

First thought was- "this post just doesn't sound like Stryker". Please consider as a compliment.

Second thought was- if Hardee were an actor, he would maybe be comparable to a Harry Dean Stanton or Eli Wallach. Ya know- a solid professional.

Polk ……….Pee Wee Herman?

Ok, maybe a bit harsh.

 

[Doc_Ralph]

View attachment 528165

Great breakfast biscuits …

 

[Doc_Ralph]

Great breakfast biscuits …

Yeah Hardee hands down and I am fond of the name as I dated a gal with that last name oh way out west.

Good solid corps commander IMHO

YHS,
Doc Ralph

At Spotsy CH

 

[SWS]

Both of them seem to have been particularly touchy, but I suppose working under Bragg brings that out pretty easily.

 

[gary]

TallTallMan answered my preference for corps commander (but I eschew fast "food" restaurants as unpalatable).

 

[52ndFandS]

Bragg would have said Hardee, hands down!

Would Bragg have him excuted for perceived slights?

 

[52ndFandS]

My vote goes to Hardee. Polk did like to play politics but IMHO he wasn't a particularly good general. Harder does take flak for being on the defense. Considering what was going on in his department I don't think he had too much choice. Those states were full of minor incursions.

He had the added headache of supplies arriving at Florida by runners and keeping those supplies from the enemy. He also watched over an infrastructure that was totally different than rail and road. They used rivers, trails, rails, wagons, ETC. I'd be a little defensive myself.

And everytime troops moved or fought he could say, "I wrote the book on that."