Was General Curtis a great general?

[major bill]

I have just finished a few books on the Trans-Mississippi Theater. I found the Battle of pea Ridge interesting. General Samuel R. Curtis conducts a successful winter campaign that climaxes with Union victory at Pea Ridge. The Union victory protects right flank of the drive down the Mississippi River later that year. Curtis then crosses southern Missouri and northern Arkansas. During the march Curtis's men live off the land and free large number of slaves.
Curtis is one of the most successful Union generals of 1862 after Grant. He is not often mentioned as a great general and probably deserves more credit. Any thoughts about why his is so often over looked?

 

[Allie]

I have just finished a few books on the Trans-Mississippi Theater. I found the Battle of pea Ridge interesting. General Samuel R. Curtis conducts a successful winter campaign that climaxes with Union victory at Pea Ridge. The Union victory protects right flank of the drive down the Mississippi River later that year. Curtis then crosses southern Missouri and northern Arkansas. During the march Curtis's men live off the land and free large number of slaves.
Curtis is one of the most successful Union generals of 1862 after Grant. He is not often mentioned as a great general and probably deserves more credit. Any thoughts about why his is so often over looked?

The whole of the Trans-Mississippi gets overlooked! I'll freely admit I don't know enough about it. I don't have much to contribute but I'm replying because I want to see what others have to say.

 

[Buckeye Bill]

I wouldn't categories Brigadier General Curtis as great but I personally believe he was a good commander. After Nathaniel Lyon's death at Wilson's Creek, Curtis' opportunity opened. The Battle of Pea Ridge was a very important conflict to keep Missouri in the Union's control.

I agree with Allie. The Trans-Mississippi conflicts get overlooked. But these conflicts helped the Union win this bloody war.

 

[NedBaldwin]

I have just finished a few books on the Trans-Mississippi Theater. I found the Battle of pea Ridge interesting. General Samuel R. Curtis conducts a successful winter campaign that climaxes with Union victory at Pea Ridge. The Union victory protects right flank of the drive down the Mississippi River later that year. Curtis then crosses southern Missouri and northern Arkansas. During the march Curtis's men live off the land and free large number of slaves.
Curtis is one of the most successful Union generals of 1862 after Grant. He is not often mentioned as a great general and probably deserves more credit. Any thoughts about why his is so often over looked?

I think he does deserve more.

3 reasons he gets overlooked:

1) Its the Trans-Miss -- he werent at Gettysburg, Shiloh, or Chickamauga

2) Personal matters - he took a leave of absence in August 1862 so he could participate in a Railroad Convention in Chicago. He wasnt gone that long but I think he took himself off the front lines at a significant time and it damaged his relationship with Halleck.

3) Politics - the war in Missouri was very political and Curtis got on the wrong side of Gov Gamble, leading to him losing command in Missouri and being sent to Kansas (where he won the battle o Westport).

 

[hanna260]

I'm thinking he was forgotten because of Trans-Mississippi and also this weird thing that until recently all Union generals with the exception of Sherman and Grant tended to get ignored. It's funny- I knew a lot of the Confederate generals but before really getting into the ACW, couldn't really name two besides the aforementioned Grant and Sherman. Also, politics, leave of absence, and lack of romantic battles, as Ned mentioned above.

 

[Buckeye Bill]

Top 3 States : American Civil War Battles

1) Virginia
2) Tennessee
3) Missouri

Missouri?

You said, "Missouri?"

Yes.....

Not many Americans realize the state of Missouri was third.

So why wouldn't the history student study the Trans-Mississippi campaigns?

I am baffled.....

 

[major bill]

Top 3 States : American Civil War Battles

1) Virginia
2) Tennessee
3) Missouri

Missouri?

You said, "Missouri?"

Yes.....

Not many Americans realize the state of Missouri was third.

So why wouldn't the history student study the Trans-Mississippi campaigns?

I am baffled.....

This. I did not know. The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know.

 

[Buckeye Bill]

This. I did not know. The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know.

Join the club, my friend! lolol

 

[OpnCoronet]

Militarily, he was certainly a competent and(more importantly) successful commander. But, much larger later battles, overshadowed his earlier smaller(but no less important) victories., that, and the fact that Mo. was at the end of a long and uncertain communications lines to the population centers in the East(and their large mass circulation newspapers and publications)
In any event, to me, the Battle of Pea Ridge was a 'great' victory and by implication at least, that would make Curtis, at least a legitimate candidate for being seen as 'great'(whatever that means).