JeffBrooks
2nd Lieutenant
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2009
- Location
- Hutto, TX
Taking a cue for Major Bill's thread about ranking the Full Generals of the Confederate Army, I thought I'd post a similar thread for ranking the Lieutenant Generals of the Confederate Army.
1. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson: His 1862 Valley Campaign would by itself have placed Jackson in the top tier of great captains of history. His performances at Second Manassas, Sharpsburg and Chancellorsville were nothing short of brilliant. He didn't do well in the Seven Days, it is true, but did anybody?
2. Jubal Early: With little in the way of resources, he carried out one of the most remarkable campaigns of the war, securing the Shenandoah, relieving the pressure on Lee, raising morale throughout the South and very nearly capturing Washington. Against Sheridan, he did better than anyone had a right to expect, considering the disparity of forces.
3. James Longstreet: Solid and dependable, Longstreet was the pillar of the Army of Northern Virginia.
4. William Hardee: "Old Reliable", indeed. Peachtree Creek and Jonesborugh were bad days, but marvelous at Murfreesboro and good at Shiloh, Atlanta, and most of the battles in the first phase of the Atlanta Campaign. His evacuation of Savannah was a textbook case of how to escape from a vastly superior enemy with one's forces intact.
5. Nathan Bedford Forrest: Not the invincible superhuman many seem to think he is, but obviosuly one of the great military leaders of the war.
6. Richard Taylor: Underrated and underappreciated. His performance in Louisiana should be ranked among the great performances of the war.
7. Alexander Stewart: Underrated, if you ask me. A solid brigade and division commander who came into his own as a corps commander. He did very well at Peachtree Creek.
8. D. H. Hill: Very good, even if he couldn't get along with anybody.
9. Wade Hampton: Workmanlike cavalry commander.
10. A. P. Hill: The best division commander Lee had, but only average as a corps commander.
11. Simon Buckner: Unfortunately best known for being the fall guy for Fort Donelson. But actually not a bad commander.
12. Richard Anderson: Underrated, but no Jackson or Longstreet.
13. Richard Ewell: Not bad in the Wilderness. Pretty bad everywhere else.
14. Stephen D. Lee: Ezra Church, anyone?
15. Theophilus Holmes: His refusal to send assistance outside of his department is a major reason the Union gained control of the Mississippi River.
16. John Pemberton: Seriously, was he TRYING to lose the Vicksburg Campaign?
17. Leonidas Polk: He should not have been appointed a lieutenant, let alone a lieutenant general. His ineptitude lost the Confederacy the chance of bringing the state of Kentucky into the war on its side. On the battlefield, he was worse than useless.
1. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson: His 1862 Valley Campaign would by itself have placed Jackson in the top tier of great captains of history. His performances at Second Manassas, Sharpsburg and Chancellorsville were nothing short of brilliant. He didn't do well in the Seven Days, it is true, but did anybody?
2. Jubal Early: With little in the way of resources, he carried out one of the most remarkable campaigns of the war, securing the Shenandoah, relieving the pressure on Lee, raising morale throughout the South and very nearly capturing Washington. Against Sheridan, he did better than anyone had a right to expect, considering the disparity of forces.
3. James Longstreet: Solid and dependable, Longstreet was the pillar of the Army of Northern Virginia.
4. William Hardee: "Old Reliable", indeed. Peachtree Creek and Jonesborugh were bad days, but marvelous at Murfreesboro and good at Shiloh, Atlanta, and most of the battles in the first phase of the Atlanta Campaign. His evacuation of Savannah was a textbook case of how to escape from a vastly superior enemy with one's forces intact.
5. Nathan Bedford Forrest: Not the invincible superhuman many seem to think he is, but obviosuly one of the great military leaders of the war.
6. Richard Taylor: Underrated and underappreciated. His performance in Louisiana should be ranked among the great performances of the war.
7. Alexander Stewart: Underrated, if you ask me. A solid brigade and division commander who came into his own as a corps commander. He did very well at Peachtree Creek.
8. D. H. Hill: Very good, even if he couldn't get along with anybody.
9. Wade Hampton: Workmanlike cavalry commander.
10. A. P. Hill: The best division commander Lee had, but only average as a corps commander.
11. Simon Buckner: Unfortunately best known for being the fall guy for Fort Donelson. But actually not a bad commander.
12. Richard Anderson: Underrated, but no Jackson or Longstreet.
13. Richard Ewell: Not bad in the Wilderness. Pretty bad everywhere else.
14. Stephen D. Lee: Ezra Church, anyone?
15. Theophilus Holmes: His refusal to send assistance outside of his department is a major reason the Union gained control of the Mississippi River.
16. John Pemberton: Seriously, was he TRYING to lose the Vicksburg Campaign?
17. Leonidas Polk: He should not have been appointed a lieutenant, let alone a lieutenant general. His ineptitude lost the Confederacy the chance of bringing the state of Kentucky into the war on its side. On the battlefield, he was worse than useless.