Rank the AOP Corps Generals

Ohio88th1

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Aug 4, 2023
Hi all! I'm new to the forum and glad to be here. Rank the performance of The Army of the Potomac Corps commanders (best to worst) at the battle of Gettysburg (not the entire campaign). You may include generals who took over command for wounded or killed officers and those who took over for those who commanded the wings of the army. Consider: Reynolds/Doubleday/Newton for the I Corps and Left Wing, Hancock for the II Corps, Sickles/Birney for the III Corps, Sykes for the V Corps, Sedgwick for the VI Corps, Howard/Schurz for the XI Corps. Slocum/Williams for the XII Corps and Right Wing and Pleasonton for the Cavalry Corps (was he even there?). Thanks for your esteemed input. I'll share my thoughts later. Thanks much!
 
It's all arbitrary opinions, which are basically meaningless IMO. It's not really possible to judge these people accurately when their peers couldn't even do it that well without their own biases and objectives interfering. Even the least of these you could make arguments too harsh against and even the best of these you could make too nice of an argument. Maybe Reynolds would be the Hancock of Gettysburg if one minié ball didn't find his skull? Does unreached potential count? Does it matter?

Let's say Longstreet isn't doing a flanking attack down South but a frontal assault from Seminary/Warfield ridge towards Cemetery Ridge July 2nd (think: Pickett's charge). All the sudden Sickles looks like a genius for putting his corps artillery in a position to enfilade that advance and his infantry in a position to counterattack from there. There's way too many variables in play.

In some alternative Universe John Pope smashes Stonewall Jackson at 2nd Bull Run and becomes the new Grant but he didn't. He could have, though. Forget chance as a variable to your own loss. Looking at the pure results of an action doesn't mean that the leaders involved had much to do with it. The enemy gets a say and sometimes the enemy gets lucky or unlucky to your benefit or detriment.

  1. Hancock - Made the most of multiple messes
  2. Howard - Made the most of a mess - wisely kept a brigade in reserve
  3. Sykes - His Corps was cannibalized
  4. Slocum - Thought he was still a wing commander
  5. Sedgewick - Showed up
  6. Reynolds - Made a mess
  7. Sickles - Made a mess
 
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Its difficult to evaluate them equally vs each other as each's circumstances were different but that said:

1) Hancock (if any union corps commander stamped his name on this battle it was him)
2) Slocum
3) Howard (two words: Cemetery Hill)
4) Reynolds (generally profoundly overrated IMHO...)
5) Sykes (his corps fought as a piecemeal series of Band-Aids so its difficult to evaluate. But he didnt screw up)
6) Sedgewick (as said above....he showed up)
7) Sickles (but then again the whole **** park is his monument)


Thats my $.02

Ken
 
I rank em:
1) Hancock - was everywhere during the battle
2) Slocum - protected the Baltimore Pike at Culp's Hill
3) Reynolds - Rushed to Buford's defense
4) Howard - secured Cemetery Hill
5) Sykes - didn't really have a command after Sickles screw up
6) Sedgwick - command was minimally engaged
7) Sickles - poor decisions
8) Pleasanton - not sure he was there - Lol
 
1. Hancock - Came up- Rallied the troops, took the bull by the horns. Put units where they needed to be. Solid Leadership
2. Howard - Kept Cemetery Hill in Union hands. Did a good job despite being outnumbered x 3.
3. Reynolds - Gone too soon.
4. Doubleday - Was handed a hot potato, Put up a good fight. Got beat up in the 4th Inning.
5. Sykes - Sent his corps to clean up someone else's mess.
6. Slocum - Williams did his most of job for him. Thank God for Greene.
7. Sedgewick - Pushed his corps until they arrived. Had his corps cherry picked and scattered all over the battlefield. Never had no chance to lead his corps in the battle.
8. Newton - Honorable mention
9. Sickles - Clean up needed in Aisle 3.
 
1. Hancock - Came up- Rallied the troops, took the bull by the horns. Put units where they needed to be. Solid Leadership
2. Howard - Kept Cemetery Hill in Union hands. Did a good job despite being outnumbered x 3.
3. Reynolds - Gone too soon.
4. Doubleday - Was handed a hot potato, Put up a good fight. Got beat up in the 4th Inning.
5. Sykes - Sent his corps to clean up someone else's mess.
6. Slocum - Williams did his most of job for him. Thank God for Greene.
7. Sedgewick - Pushed his corps until they arrived. Had his corps cherry picked and scattered all over the battlefield. Never had no chance to lead his corps in the battle.
8. Newton - Honorable mention
9. Sickles - Clean up needed in Aisle 3.

I can't believe I forgot about General Doubleday! I agree 👍
 
It's all arbitrary opinions, which are basically meaningless IMO. It's not really possible to judge these people accurately when their peers couldn't even do it that well without their own biases and objectives interfering.
I do agree that this type of ranking exercise is meaningless unless there are stated criteria by which to judge the individuals. And that's not easy to do since each of the senior commanders mentioned played differing roles at Gettysburg. Of course, it's simple to place Hancock at the top of such a list because of the major role he played in acting as Meade's eyes and ears and understanding the area's defensive capability. And it's easy enough to downplay Sickles because of the controversial decision he took in moving 3rd Corps beyond his assigned position. But each of the commanders had a different part to play in the Gettysburg saga; and of course, the important roles that less senior commanders played were what really affected the outcome.
 
Hi all! I'm new to the forum and glad to be here. Rank the performance of The Army of the Potomac Corps commanders (best to worst) at the battle of Gettysburg (not the entire campaign). You may include generals who took over command for wounded or killed officers and those who took over for those who commanded the wings of the army. Consider: Reynolds/Doubleday/Newton for the I Corps and Left Wing, Hancock for the II Corps, Sickles/Birney for the III Corps, Sykes for the V Corps, Sedgwick for the VI Corps, Howard/Schurz for the XI Corps. Slocum/Williams for the XII Corps and Right Wing and Pleasonton for the Cavalry Corps (was he even there?). Thanks for your esteemed input. I'll share my thoughts later. Thanks much!
Welcome from Soldiers Who Fought on Horseback Cavalry forum
 

Ok, I'm taking a shot at it with some detail to clarify. Feel shaky on some of the positioning but, there it is.

1 Hancock; For all the reason we all know. He was everywhere, every day, sending troops to all sectors even Day-1 posting Steven's battery on the knoll between Cemetery Hill and Culps Hill. Day-2 commanding the left personally guiding whoever he saw to the exact spot in some instances; Caldwell, Williard, 1st Minn. Day-3, still cool as a cucumber riding in front of the line during the cannon aid to calm the men.

2 Hunt; Like Meade and Hancock, even more so, he was everywhere, assuring his artillery was well placed, supplied, broken gear repaired and the reserve ready. He was seen up and down the length of the line. Confronted the belligerent Hancock on conserving long range ammunition Day-3 that proved invaluable with McGilvery's gun line and Rittenhouse atop Little Round Top devastating the right of Pickett's line, Osborn blasting the left of Pettigrew-Trimble while 2nd corps batteries (Hancock's) were silent, out of long range ammunition. At one point during the assault Hunt charged into the fray at The Angle unloading his pistol until his horse was hit, pinning him to the ground. He received a promotion to Brevet Col. Us Army fFor gallant and meritorious services at the battle of Gettysburg".

3 Howard; Having the presence of mind to leave an entire division on Cemetery Hill. Unfortunately, he was atop the Fahnestock building when command devolved to him, not with the corps to correct Barlow's placement too far forward at Blocher's knoll (Barlow) instead of closer to town at the Alms House buildings. Barlow's decision, not the fighting quality of the corps as evidenced by Gordon's 30% casualty rate led to the collapse of the corps line.

4 Sykes; Got his corps to the field intact (limited straggling) and later to the left in one piece to save the left flank at Little Round Top vs Law then vs Kershaw, Semmes, Anderson et al who later attacked the western slope of LRT. Tilton-Sweitzer, Burbank-Day helped delay Southern efforts earlier in The Wheatfield. Everything about LRT is the 5th corps. Needs to have a statue.

5 Sedgwick; epic forced march to the field giving Meade the numbers and confidence needed to secure the left and right (Neill to Slocum's support) Day-2. They loved their 'Uncle John' but he was all business that day, stabilizing much of the line with his 6th corps.

6 Pleasanton; Can't ignore the work done by Federal Cavalry early in the campaign and Pleasanton's promoting high energy men to lead brigades before the battle who displaying aggressive behaviour in major engagements at Upperville, Middleburg and Aldie and subsequent actions at Hanover, Brinkerhoff Ridge, Fairfield, East Cavalry Field, and the overall reconnaissance work and effort at Gettysburg Day-1, saying nothing of Brandy Station. These actions made the AOP's cavalry corps into a fighting force that had to be reckoned with through the end of the war. Not replacing Buford guarding the left when relieved and sent to Westminster Day-2 did not become an issue. ** See Sickles.

7 Slocum; Staying at Two Taverns five miles south of town (arrived 11AM) not coming to the field Day-1 to take command enabled the loss to become a rout and near disaster. Division commander Geary getting lost (guides?) returning to a place (LRT) he just vacated a few hours before Day-2 is bewildering. Green's brigade fought well but credit eight other regiments we know of who came to their aid; 6th Wis, 14th Brooklyn, 147 NY (Wadsworth of 1st), 61st Oh, 157th and 45th NY, 82 Ill (Schmmelfennig of 11th) and 71st Pa (Webb of 2nd).

8 Sickles; Credit to Sickles (Birney, Hunt?) for sending 3rd Maine and 1st US-SS on Pitzer Woods recon noon Day-2 to discover Longstreet (Anderson) advancing the line to that point.

**** Reynolds; No idea where to place but entrusted with the left wing of army (closest to Lee) tells us what Meade thought of him. Most agree Doubleday fought the corps well. Newton was competent enough to have Meade's confidence with the elevation to corps command.
 
Welcome to CivilWarTalk, @Ohio88th1 😄

This reminds me some of the threads I tended to read some years ago in this same forum.
Much difficult and arbitrary but I'll try :
• 1st Corps
- - - MG Reynolds (C+) > lead from the frontline, as a regimental officer ; chose the battlefield
- - - MG Doubleday (B) > managed to get his troops resisting against outnumbering forces
- - - MG Newton (C) > seemed competent enough to lead his troops, had engineering skills
• 2nd Corps
- - - MG Hancock (A) > promptly organized the defenses on the hills and get control of an informal "Center Wing"
• 3rd Corps
- - - MG Sickles (D+) > his recklessness somehow put Longstreet's movement in disarray; pricky officer
• 5th Corps
- - - MG Sykes (B-) > solid and experienced soldier, get the job done with scattered troops (thanks to Warren)
• 6th Corps
- - - MG Sedgwick (C) > stayed mostly in reserve and didn't engage his whole Corps into the fight
• 11th Corps
- - - MG Howard (C) > handled his troops quite badly on the 1st day but cautiously kept some reserve on the hills (seemed to slowly learn since Chancellorsville)
• 12th Corps
- - - MG Slocum (C) > assumed command of the "Right Wing", seemed to get some success in his sector thanks mostly to his subordinates
• Cavalry Corps
- - - MG Pleasonton (C+) > managed to catch Stuart and prevented him to provide intelligence to Lee; pricky officer

A- / A / A+ > brilliant to outstanding commander
B- / B / B+ > good to very good commander
C- / C / C+ > average to competent commander
D- / D / D+ > below average commander
 
This is a fun topic to think about

1. Howard identified and secured Cemetry Hill as he key position
2. Sedgewick moved his Corps a commendable distance in a short time to provide aid and important reserve
3. Slocum held the critical Baltimore Pike route for eventualities
4. Hancock crucial to Day Two and but Day One was already in the can when he got there
5. Sykes had his Corps parceled out where needed and it fought credibly
6. Sickles once the fighting started he scrambled to patch the holes
7. Reynolds too small of a sample size at Gettysburg

Everybody is correct in the light in which they see the events.
 
Ok, I'm taking a shot at it with some detail to clarify. Feel shaky on some of the positioning but, there it is.

1 Hancock; For all the reason we all know. He was everywhere, every day, sending troops to all sectors even Day-1 posting Steven's battery on the knoll between Cemetery Hill and Culps Hill. Day-2 commanding the left personally guiding whoever he saw to the exact spot in some instances; Caldwell, Williard, 1st Minn. Day-3, still cool as a cucumber riding in front of the line during the cannon aid to calm the men.

2 Hunt; Like Meade and Hancock, even more so, he was everywhere, assuring his artillery was well placed, supplied, broken gear repaired and the reserve ready. He was seen up and down the length of the line. Confronted the belligerent Hancock on conserving long range ammunition Day-3 that proved invaluable with McGilvery's gun line and Rittenhouse atop Little Round Top devastating the right of Pickett's line, Osborn blasting the left of Pettigrew-Trimble while 2nd corps batteries (Hancock's) were silent, out of long range ammunition. At one point during the assault Hunt charged into the fray at The Angle unloading his pistol until his horse was hit, pinning him to the ground. He received a promotion to Brevet Col. Us Army fFor gallant and meritorious services at the battle of Gettysburg".

3 Howard; Having the presence of mind to leave an entire division on Cemetery Hill. Unfortunately, he was atop the Fahnestock building when command devolved to him, not with the corps to correct Barlow's placement too far forward at Blocher's knoll (Barlow) instead of closer to town at the Alms House buildings. Barlow's decision, not the fighting quality of the corps as evidenced by Gordon's 30% casualty rate led to the collapse of the corps line.

4 Sykes; Got his corps to the field intact (limited straggling) and later to the left in one piece to save the left flank at Little Round Top vs Law then vs Kershaw, Semmes, Anderson et al who later attacked the western slope of LRT. Tilton-Sweitzer, Burbank-Day helped delay Southern efforts earlier in The Wheatfield. Everything about LRT is the 5th corps. Needs to have a statue.

5 Sedgwick; epic forced march to the field giving Meade the numbers and confidence needed to secure the left and right (Neill to Slocum's support) Day-2. They loved their 'Uncle John' but he was all business that day, stabilizing much of the line with his 6th corps.

6 Pleasanton; Can't ignore the work done by Federal Cavalry early in the campaign and Pleasanton's promoting high energy men to lead brigades before the battle who displaying aggressive behaviour in major engagements at Upperville, Middleburg and Aldie and subsequent actions at Hanover, Brinkerhoff Ridge, Fairfield, East Cavalry Field, and the overall reconnaissance work and effort at Gettysburg Day-1, saying nothing of Brandy Station. These actions made the AOP's cavalry corps into a fighting force that had to be reckoned with through the end of the war. Not replacing Buford guarding the left when relieved and sent to Westminster Day-2 did not become an issue. ** See Sickles.

7 Slocum; Staying at Two Taverns five miles south of town (arrived 11AM) not coming to the field Day-1 to take command enabled the loss to become a rout and near disaster. Division commander Geary getting lost (guides?) returning to a place (LRT) he just vacated a few hours before Day-2 is bewildering. Green's brigade fought well but credit eight other regiments we know of who came to their aid; 6th Wis, 14th Brooklyn, 147 NY (Wadsworth of 1st), 61st Oh, 157th and 45th NY, 82 Ill (Schmmelfennig of 11th) and 71st Pa (Webb of 2nd).

8 Sickles; Credit to Sickles (Birney, Hunt?) for sending 3rd Maine and 1st US-SS on Pitzer Woods recon noon Day-2 to discover Longstreet (Anderson) advancing the line to that point.

**** Reynolds; No idea where to place but entrusted with the left wing of army (closest to Lee) tells us what Meade thought of him. Most agree Doubleday fought the corps well. Newton was competent enough to have Meade's confidence with the elevation to corps command.
Forgot to mention Slocum's advising Meade to leave a division on Culps Hill Day-2, and not pull the entire corps to the left as ordered. He succeeded in being allowed to leave a brigade that happened to be (per alignment) Green's to man the hill. Great credit to Slocum for that!
So great was the emergency on the left thanks to Sickles that Meade almost made so desperate a move leaving only Wadsworth's beat up division to hold the north slope.
 
1. Hancock - Came up- Rallied the troops, took the bull by the horns. Put units where they needed to be. Solid Leadership
2. Howard - Kept Cemetery Hill in Union hands. Did a good job despite being outnumbered x 3.
3. Reynolds - Gone too soon.
4. Doubleday - Was handed a hot potato, Put up a good fight. Got beat up in the 4th Inning.
5. Sykes - Sent his corps to clean up someone else's mess.
6. Slocum - Williams did his most of job for him. Thank God for Greene.
7. Sedgewick - Pushed his corps until they arrived. Had his corps cherry picked and scattered all over the battlefield. Never had no chance to lead his corps in the battle.
8. Newton - Honorable mention
9. Sickles - Clean up needed in Aisle 3.
Hancock is number one. That's why his nickname is *The Superb"!
 

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