Underused Civil War generals

[Stryker65]

There were quite a few Civil War generals who were either relieved due to command consolidations or simply transferred without reason -- in my opinion, these generals could have served their respective armies much better in active service than in garrison duties or "awaiting orders."

Some of these include:
- Brig. Gen. Alvin P. Hovey (US): Relieved after his division (1st Div, 23d Corps) was broken up; lauded by Grant for skillful maneuvering at Champion Hill
- Brig. Gen. Hugh B. Ewing (US): Relieved after the downsizing of the 15th Corps from 3-brigade divisions to 2-brigade divisions; Sherman's right-hand man from 1861-1863
- Brig. Gen. Ralph P. Buckland (US): Relieved after the downsizing of the 15th Corps from 3-brigade divisions to 2-brigade divisions; Sherman's top brigade commander at Shiloh
- Maj. Gen. John H. Forney (CS): Relieved after the surrender of Vicksburg; a veteran commander of both Eastern and Western theaters and one of the best division commanders in Pemberton's army.
- Brig. Gen. John C. Caldwell (US): Relieved after the post-Mine Run reorganizations; as mentioned in a previous thread, Caldwell had a controversial service history, but that didn't mean that his services were wasted -- he could have been transferred to any number of other theaters.
- Brig. Gen. Erastus B. Tyler (US): Relieved after his brigade of 2-year regiments mustered out; a veteran of Jackson's Valley Campaign who fought well at Fredericksburg.
- Brig. Gen. Nathaniel C. McLean (US): Relieved after the Chancellorsville debacle; a veteran of Jackson's Valley Campaign who saved the 11th Corps at Chancellorsville with his Ohio Brigade.
- Brig. Gen. St. John R. Liddell (CS): Relieved after the post-Chattanooga reorganizations; one of the few officers Bragg, Hardee, and Davis all liked.
- Brig. Gens. Evander M. Law and Jerome B. Robertson (CS): Relieved after a feud with Longstreet; veteran officers who would have served valiantly had they not been relieved by Longstreet.

 

[Stryker65]

Ooooo … how about William S Harney? Tennessean who remained loyal to the Union but was distrusted due to his early conciliatory overtures in Missouri. Shelved into administrative duties until he realized nobody would trust him with command and retired to St Louis in 1863.

He was also ... advanced in years, and being a former dragoon officer of the old army would not (IMO) have been suited for the New Army led by so many younger than him.