Who's your favorite general?

[Manassas 1861]

Alot of people won't agree with me, but I think my favorite general is George B. Mcclellan. He got closer to Richmond than anyone before with his Pennisula campaign. As well as the Maryland campaign. He operated with unusual spead, and I think he was very smart to send half his cavalry and half the VI corps to stop JEB Stuart at William's Ford.

 

[bankerpapaw]

Nathan Bedford Forrest

 

[Nathan Stuart]

That's a worthwhile title question to ponder.

My favorites focus would be on Confederate proven 'fighting' generals.

While I have no favorite Southern 'Army' or 'Corps' commanders, my preferred generals could be separated (and reduced) into commanders at various field command levels:-

L-G Nathan Forrest - cavalry commander
M-G Patrick Cleburne - infantry division commander
B-G Francis Cockrell - infantry brigade commander

Thought these were highly effective combat commanders who 'led from the front', and possessed admirable personal leadership qualities for what they were tasked to do. Considered each of them as resilient, resolute, resourceful and reliable generals, and particularly in the case of Forrest, daring.

If I must choose one favorite general from the three listed above, would lean marginally towards 'Forrest' because of his extra dare/boldness.

 

[Pollaco]

I'd go with Forrest as well.

 

[Stryker65]

I'd say the quiet generals who never achieved fame but were known for their courage under fire and leadership qualities, such as Marcellus M. Crocker, Cadmus M. Wilcox, Joseph J. Reynolds, and Samuel R. Curtis. Overall, though, I don't think I can answer.

 

[James R.]

Gotta go with the man himself, U S Grant. From start to finish, no one can match his accomplishments.

Sentimental favorite would be George Henry Thomas.

 

[7th Texas Mounted Rifles]

Ranald S. Mackenzie and Arthur P. Bagby Jr.

Pretty big fan of John A. Wharton and Ulysses S. Grant as well.

 

[hughes]

Grant

 

[jackt62]

Thomas

 

[ETNConfederate]

Jubal Anderson Early, the single most misunderstood personality of the era.

For US, George Crook should be better understood, and honorable mention for President Hayes and James Wilson.

Others: George Thomas, John McCausland, John Vaughn, and George Getty, the *real* US hero of Cedar Creek. If people understood precisely what happened in the Mount Carmel Cemetery, he would be remembered in the context of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain.

 

[stetson7]

John Sedgwick……… who, aside from his accomplishments as a civil war general, will always be remembered for his final comment on the battlefield: "They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance."

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

Alot of people won't agree with me, but I think my favorite general is George B. Mcclellan. He got closer to Richmond than anyone before with his Pennisula campaign. As well as the Maryland campaign. He operated with unusual spead, and I think he was very smart to send half his cavalry and half the VI corps to stop JEB Stuart at William's Ford.

Glad that you like McClellan, but he would be somewhere around the #10 ranked Union general if I made a list. He might have fallen out of my top ten except that he was such a good organizer, and because the soldiers liked him.

 

[TallTallMan]

Lee.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

Lee.

I'll bet that choice is based on a lot of thought, and not just because of Lee's popularity.

 

[Northern Light]

I am picking two, because I can't decide. Gen. "Billy the Bad Boy" Sherman or Gen. Sam Elliott. (aka John Buford)

 

[TallTallMan]

I am picking two, because I can't decide. Gen. "Billy the Bad Boy" Sherman or Gen. Sam Elliott. (aka John Buford)

You got the hots for Billy the Bad Boy?

 

[TallTallMan]

I'll bet that choice is based on a lot of thought, and not just because of Lee's popularity.

I was drawn to him from the first minute I got into all this. I always felt bad for him. He proved a great general doesn't have to be great.

 

[Northern Light]

You got the hots for Billy the Bad Boy?

I love my Shermy, LOL

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

I don't have a favorite Civil War general. I do have a few that I like, and several who I think were poor to terrible (including Steele for the Union and Bragg for the CSA). I plan to make lists of my top ten Union generals, top ten Confederate generals, and a top ten overall list, but haven't gotten around to it.

 

[G Low]

Stonewall Jackson is a favorite