Rating the Texas Generals

[Vahan]

I thought it would be fun to see everyones opinions and what was said about the 37 generals that came out of Texas. Also to see highlights as to why you feel who is the best to worst and worthy of mentioning? Are there any Colonels you feel deserved to be a Brigadier General or just want to talk about them?

I personally feel Arthur Pendleton Bagby Jr ranks amongst one of the better ones. He was promoted twice in one year from Lt. Colonel to Colonel of the 7th Texas Mounted Volunteers. He also took part in the recapture of Galveston on Jan. 1, 1863. He was wounded in Battle of Fort Brisland in April 1863. Then, he successfully commanded what was Sibley's Brigade from Oct 1, 1863 to April 26, 1864. Furthermore, in March 17, 1864 he was promoted to Brigadier and led his brigade in the Battle of Mansfield and Battle of Pleasant Hill. In Jan 9,1865 General Simon Buckner recommended Bagby, whom was now in command of 4 brigades, for promotion to Major General. From which Gen. Kirby Smith approved on Jan. 13, 1865. Now, why is it that not one but two promotion's never were approved by Jefferson Davis or the Senate?

 

[John Wolf Smith]

I thought it would be fun to see everyones opinions and what was said about the 37 generals that came out of Texas. Also to see highlights as to why you feel who is the best to worst and worthy of mentioning? Are there any Colonels you feel deserved to be a Brigadier General or just want to talk about them?

I personally feel Arthur Pendleton Bagby Jr ranks amongst one of the better ones. He was promoted twice in one year from Lt. Colonel to Colonel of the 7th Texas Mounted Volunteers. He also took part in the recapture of Galveston on Jan. 1, 1863. He was wounded in Battle of Fort Brisland in April 1863. Then, he successfully commanded what was Sibley's Brigade from Oct 1, 1863 to April 26, 1864. Furthermore, in March 17, 1864 he was promoted to Brigadier and led his brigade in the Battle of Mansfield and Battle of Pleasant Hill. In Jan 9,1865 General Simon Buckner recommended Bagby, whom was now in command of 4 brigades, for promotion to Major General. From which Gen. Kirby Smith approved on Jan. 13, 1865. Now, why is it that not one but two promotion's never were approved by Jefferson Davis or the Senate?

Could you give a list of all 37 generals, please and thank you.

 

[NedBaldwin]

I thought it would be fun to see everyones opinions and what was said about the 37 generals that came out of Texas. Also to see highlights as to why you feel who is the best to worst and worthy of mentioning? Are there any Colonels you feel deserved to be a Brigadier General or just want to talk about them?

I personally feel Arthur Pendleton Bagby Jr ranks amongst one of the better ones. He was promoted twice in one year from Lt. Colonel to Colonel of the 7th Texas Mounted Volunteers. He also took part in the recapture of Galveston on Jan. 1, 1863. He was wounded in Battle of Fort Brisland in April 1863. Then, he successfully commanded what was Sibley's Brigade from Oct 1, 1863 to April 26, 1864. Furthermore, in March 17, 1864 he was promoted to Brigadier and led his brigade in the Battle of Mansfield and Battle of Pleasant Hill. In Jan 9,1865 General Simon Buckner recommended Bagby, whom was now in command of 4 brigades, for promotion to Major General. From which Gen. Kirby Smith approved on Jan. 13, 1865. Now, why is it that not one but two promotion's never were approved by Jefferson Davis or the Senate?

Tom Green was talented at leading texas cavalry until his death during the Red River campaign

major was also good

I don't think Wharton gets enough love

I have a fondness for EJ Davis but that's probably because I'm a unionist

All cavalry commanders, hmmm

 

[Pollaco]

I always favored Colonel Augustus C. Buchel who was killed leading a dismounted charge at Pleasant Hill, La on April 9, 1864. He should have been a brigadier general , in fact I think he was appointed but never confirmed.

 

[Pollaco]

From what I understand there was a legal requirement that promotions would be appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The communication between Richmond and the Trans-Mississippi Department were not only disrupted but cut off after the fall of Vicksburg.

 

[Vahan]

Could you give a list of all 37 generals, please and thank you.

This list is based off Allardice and Wooster:

Arthur Bagby
Hamilton Bee
Xavier Debray
Matthew Ector
Richard Gano
Hiram Granbury
Thomas Green
Elkanah Greer
John Gregg
William Hardeman
James Harrison
Thomas Harrison
Joseph Hogg
John Hood
Adam Johnson
Albert Johnston
Wilburn King
Walter Lane
Samuel Maxey
Ben McCulloch
Henry McCulloch
John Moore
Allison Nelson
Horace Randal
Felix Robertson
Jerome Robertson
Lawrence Ross
Thomas Rosser
William Scurry
William Steele
Alexander Terrell
Richard Waterhouse
Thomas Waul
John Wharton
John Whitfield
Louis Wigfall
William Young

Actually should be 38 with William Parsons

 

[Pollaco]

Was Philip Luckett ever promoted to Brigadier or was he just a colonel that was temporarily an "acting brigadier general"?

 

[NedBaldwin]

This list is based off Allardice and Wooster:

Arthur Bagby
Hamilton Bee
Xavier Debray
Matthew Ector
Richard Gano
Hiram Granbury
Thomas Green
Elkanah Greer
John Gregg
William Hardeman
James Harrison
Thomas Harrison
Joseph Hogg
John Hood
Adam Johnson
Albert Johnston
Wilburn King
Walter Lane
Samuel Maxey
Ben McCulloch
Henry McCulloch
John Moore
Allison Nelson
Horace Randal
Felix Robertson
Jerome Robertson
Lawrence Ross
Thomas Rosser
William Scurry
William Steele
Alexander Terrell
Richard Waterhouse
Thomas Waul
John Wharton
John Whitfield
Louis Wigfall
William Young

Actually should be 38 with William Parsons

Two US generals: EJ Davis and AJ Hamilton

 

[Vahan]

Was Philip Luckett ever promoted to Brigadier or was he just a colonel that was temporarily an "acting brigadier general"?

I know Luckett in late June 1863 was made acting Brigadier and then again at Battle of Jenkins Ferry, when Scurry was KIA. In Allardice's General's in Gray, states he failed to win promotion to permanent brigade command.

 

[Vahan]

I always favored Colonel Augustus C. Buchel who was killed leading a dismounted charge at Pleasant Hill, La on April 9, 1864. He should have been a brigadier general , in fact I think he was appointed but never confirmed.

Thank you for sharing about Colonel Buchel. I just read about him and he had a very interesting military career in the French Legion and as well as being offered a general rank in the Turkish army if he converted to being a Muslim. What respect and leadership he must have commanded as the Colonel in the 1st Texas Cavalry.

 

[Trevfo]

Tom Green gets my vote. He was very effective until his horrible death.

 

[John Wolf Smith]

1. Albert S. Johnston
2. John G. Walker
3. John B. Hood
4. John A. Wharton
5. Thomas Green
6. Benjamin McCulloch
7. John Gregg
8. Jerome B. Robertson
9. Thomas L. Rosser
10. Arthur P. Bagby, Jr.
11. Xavier Debray
12. Allison Nelson
13. John S. "Rip" Ford
14. Matthew D. Ector
15. Lawrence Ross
16. Samuel Maxey
17. John D. McAdoo
18. Thomas Harrison
19. Horace Randal
20. William R. Scurry
21. Walter Lane
22. Adam Johnson
23. Santos Benavides
24. Thomas Waul
25. Hiram Granbury
26. William Steele
27. Richard Gano
28. William H. Parsons
29. John S. Griffith
30. James Deshler
31. William Hardeman
32. Richard B. Hubbard
33. James Harrison
34. Wilburn H. King
35. Richard Waterhouse
36. James W. Throckmorton
37. John C. Moore
38. James W. Barnes
39. Henry McCulloch
40. Robert P. Maclay
41. Alexander Terrell
42. Hamilton P. Bee
43. Joseph Hogg
44. Philip Luckett
45. John Whitfield
46. Louis Wigfall
47. William H. Young
48. Elkanah Greer
49. Robert H. Cumby
50. Reuben R. Ross
51. Elijah S.C. Robertson
52. Felix H. Robertson

 

[Vahan]

Tom Green gets my vote. He was very effective until his horrible death.

It was interesting to read that Tom Green as a Colonel presided as President over the court-martial of Lt. Colonel Arthur P. Bagby in September 15, 1862.

 

[Lampasas Bill]

John Bell Hood was a Kentuckian, not a Texan. He did serve as a US regular in Texas before the war. During the Civil War, while in Virginia, he was appointed to command the 4th Texas Infantry and later commanded the Texas Brigade. To my knowledge he was never a citizen of Texas. At best, he was an "honorary" Texan.

 

[Vahan]

John Bell Hood was a Kentuckian, not a Texan. He did serve as a US regular in Texas before the war. During the Civil War, while in Virginia, he was appointed to command the 4th Texas Infantry and later commanded the Texas Brigade. To my knowledge he was never a citizen of Texas. At best, he was an "honorary" Texan.

Sorry my wording was miss leading meant to say either came from Texas or led a Texas unit.

 

[Lampasas Bill]

He certainly qualifies as a leader of Texans. In 1867 he was also one of Albert Sidney Johnston's pallbearers, along with Beauregard, Bragg, Richard Taylor and Longstreet, when Johnston's body was removed from his tomb in New Orleans for it's journey back to Texas--an honorary Texas hero honoring another Texas Hero.

 

[Pollaco]

I pretty much agree with John Wolf Smith's rating . But not all. I like his placing John G. Walker up near the top of the list but Walker wasn't really a Texan was he ? But he did lead Texans. My great great grandfather was a "Greyhound" for a while. Some of these generals I never heard of. My biggest question is the 23rd on your list, Santos Benavides. He was another leader of Texans but to my knowledge never made it to the rank of brigadier general. He was a colonel (highest ranking hispanic) though he probably should have been promoted.Oh who was John D. McAdoo?

 

[John Wolf Smith]

I pretty much agree with John Wolf Smith's rating . But not all. I like his placing John G. Walker up near the top of the list but Walker wasn't really a Texan was he ? But he did lead Texans. My great great grandfather was a "Greyhound" for a while. Some of these generals I never heard of. My biggest question is the 23rd on your list, Santos Benavides. He was another leader of Texans but to my knowledge never made it to the rank of brigadier general. He was a colonel (highest ranking hispanic) though he probably should have been promoted.Oh who was John D. McAdoo?

Here are some sites with information on John D. McAdoo. I included all Texas State Generals like Santos Benavides.

John David McAdoo - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Account Suspended

John David McAdoo: Civil War General and Texas Supreme Court Justice

Explore the life of John David McAdoo, a Civil War general and justice of the Texas Supreme Court, from his early life in Tennessee to his contributions in Texas.

www.tshaonline.org

 

[John Wolf Smith]

I have updated my ranking by adding some more division commanders, who led Texans in battle.

1. Albert S. Johnston
2. John G. Walker
3. John B. Hood
4. John A. Wharton
5. Thomas Green
6. Benjamin McCulloch
7. Alfred Mouton
8. Jerome B. Robertson
9. Thomas L. Rosser
10. Arthur P. Bagby, Jr.
11. Xavier Debray
12. Camille A.J. Marie, Prince de Polignac
13. John S. "Rip" Ford
14. Matthew D. Ector
15. Lawrence Ross
16. James P. Major
17. Samuel Maxey
18. Allison Nelson
19. Horace Randal
20. John D. McAdoo
21. Walter Lane
22. John Gregg
23. Santos Benavides
24. Thomas Waul
25. Hiram Granbury
26. Adam Johnson
27. Richard Gano
28. William R. Scurry
29. Augustus C. Buchel
30. James Deshler
31. William Hardeman
32. Thomas Harrison
33. James Harrison
34. Wilburn H. King
35. Richard Waterhouse
36. John S. Griffith
37. John C. Moore
38. Richard B. Hubbard
39. William Steele
40. Robert P. Maclay
41. Alexander Terrell
42. Henry McCulloch
43. William H. Parsons
44. Philip Luckett
45. John Whitfield
46. Louis Wigfall
47. William H. Young
48. Elkanah Greer
49. Robert H. Cumby
50. Hamilton P. Bee
51. Reuben R. Ross
52. Elijah S.C. Robertson
53. Joseph Hogg
54. James W. Throckmorton
55. James W. Barnes
56. Felix H. Robertson

 

[Luke Freet]

I thought it would be fun to see everyones opinions and what was said about the 37 generals that came out of Texas. Also to see highlights as to why you feel who is the best to worst and worthy of mentioning? Are there any Colonels you feel deserved to be a Brigadier General or just want to talk about them?

I personally feel Arthur Pendleton Bagby Jr ranks amongst one of the better ones. He was promoted twice in one year from Lt. Colonel to Colonel of the 7th Texas Mounted Volunteers. He also took part in the recapture of Galveston on Jan. 1, 1863. He was wounded in Battle of Fort Brisland in April 1863. Then, he successfully commanded what was Sibley's Brigade from Oct 1, 1863 to April 26, 1864. Furthermore, in March 17, 1864 he was promoted to Brigadier and led his brigade in the Battle of Mansfield and Battle of Pleasant Hill. In Jan 9,1865 General Simon Buckner recommended Bagby, whom was now in command of 4 brigades, for promotion to Major General. From which Gen. Kirby Smith approved on Jan. 13, 1865. Now, why is it that not one but two promotion's never were approved by Jefferson Davis or the Senate?

So...question one: When you say "Texas generals" do you mean Confederate generals born in Texas (only Felix Robertson qualifies)? Confederates who resided in Texas when the war began (Tom Rosser was a Virginian living in Texas, who got his appointment to West Point from the state, and left West Point when it seceded; he would count on the lists if this is correct); or led Texas units (John Bell Hood was a Kentuckian who went south and was appointed Colonel of the 4th Texas, and later commander of the Eastern Texas Brigade; as far as I know he was never a permanent resident of Texas, despite his association with the state).
Please clarify this.