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Jonah -> Underrated commanders (8/25/2008 8:48:26 PM)
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Underrated commanders is always the subject of debate. 'I liked him, he should've been promoted ect... Who were the ten most underrated commanders anyways? What Generals would've been qualified for higher command? Love to hear all your thoughts! As for me, my list goes as followed:
10. Andrew Humphreys: Major general, Humphreys commanded a brigade in the union army in the beginning of the war, and by Antietam he commanded the 3rd Division, V corps. Always in the thick of it, Humphreys nearly broke the confederate line at Fredericksburg. Served with minor distinction at Chancellorsville. Later commanded second Division, III corps. Held back McLaws' attack at Gettysburg near Trostle's barn long enough for Caldwell to come up. Served well in the overland Campaign, later took command of the II corps in the Appomattox campaign.
9. Charles Field: Major General, CSA, Field began as a brigade commander in Hill's light division with distinction until wounded seriously at Second Manassas. Field returned to the Army 16 months later and much to Longstreet's dismay took command of Hood's (Law's) (Jenkins') Division. Field's first action was at the wilderness where it was his division that broke Hancock's II corps and in a way, won the battle. Field continued to serve well, and on occasion took command of the I corps. Field's finest action was at Petersburg. He was stationed in Richmond area, where he brought victories at Deep Bottom and other battles. At the surrender, his division was the largest at around six thousand men(including Virginia state guard attached.)
8. William Starke Rosecrans: Major General, USA, Rosecrans in the beginning was in Pope's Army of the Mississippi, where he played a crucial role in the Corinth Campaign. He later took command of the army when Pope went east. He brought victories at Iuka and II Corinth that crushed Van Dorn's Army. He later led the union to victory at Stones' River and drove Bragg out of Tennessee in a few weeks without firing a shot. He also took Knoxville at Chattanooga. Suffered a horrible defeat at Chickamauga, he was relieved. A great strategist, So-so tactian.
7. Joe Hooker: Major General(Who isn't?) USA, Hooker began as commanding Second Division, III corps. Serving well at the Peninsula and Second Manassas, he later led the V and then the I corps. At Antietam, it was Hooker’s I corps that opened up the battle, when his corps suffered heavy losses as they charged and counter charged ‘till he was wounded, right before he nearly broke Jackson for the fifth time. Held in reserve at Fredericksburg, and was promoted to take command of the Army of the Potomac. After getting spirit back in the army, he fought in his brilliant Chancellorsville campaign, that nearly broke Lee but ended in disaster. Relieved, he later commanded a corps out west successfully for another year.
6. Dan Sickles, Major General, USA, Sickles was a politician, and the only(if I remember right) Corps commander in the AoP not from West point. Sickles commanded a brigade in Hooker’s division until Fredericksburg, where he took over the division. Sickles was mainly held in reserve but then was promoted to command the III corps at Chancellorsville. Heavily engaged there, he lost two of his division commanders. His advice to Hooker to split Jackson’s Corps while it flank attacked was ignored, and may have not only cost him the battle but it possibly another year of the war. Fought at Gettysburg where he advanced in a forward position to flank Lee, but stopped and was overrun, ending in a bloody disaster that cost him his leg and most of his corps. Relieved, Sickles was a good officer but didn’t listen enough to his superiors.
5. Harry Heth, Major General, CSA, Heth began the war commanding a regiment. Later promoted to divisional command in Kirby Smith’s Army of East Tennessee. Served well in the Kentucky Campaign, but was routed during a small battle but freely admits it. Known for being honest, Lee requested that he join his army( Heth the only soldier that he called by his first name) where he joined just in time for Chancellorsville. Heth served well there, taking over Hill’s division when he was wounded only for Heth to be wounded. Heth was as D. Freeman stated ‘Not brilliant, but a good second to Hill’. Heth later took command of a new division at Gettysburg where his division started the battle. Often blamed for Lee’s defeat, Heth actually managed the battle quite well. Served well at the Wilderness, and at Spotsylvania delivered a brilliant flank attack. He often sat in for Hill while he was sick. Heth’s shining hours were like everyone else’ of the III corps: At Petersburg. Heth delivered brilliant performance after Brilliant performance, where his division became some of Lee’s shock troops. At Reams station in particular, he smashed Gibbon’s division beyond repair. Served well by covering the retreat at Appomattox, in the end, his division was still a fighting force at six thousand.
4. John Buford, Major General, USA, Buford began the war as a colonel and slowly rose up the ranks.
Later commanded a brigade of cavalry in Pope’s army, he held for the whole day against the I corps, under Longstreet. Later he continued to serve until the cavalry was reorganized into a Corps. Considered for the job but was dismissed, later Hooker thought he would’ve been a better choice. Buford served well in the battles leading up to Gettysburg, but then gave the performance of his life at Gettysburg when he held against Hill’s corps and in a way, won the war that afternoon. Afterwards he was forgotten, and died of his wounds.
3. John Bell Hood, Full General, CSA, Hood began the war as commanding all cavalry South of the James in Virginia. Later took command of the legendary Texas Brigade, and after hours of fighting, it was his brigade that broke the union line. That brigade became Lee’s elite brigade. Later took command of a division, which he again broke the union line at Second Manassas. At Antietam, it was his division that held against Hooker’s I corps, where he smashed his advance. Held in reserve at Fredericksburg, and then he missed out on Chancellorsville. Considered for corps command, but dismissed. Served well at Gettysburg, but was wounded. Served in Corps command at Chickamauga, where he again broke the union line.
Wounded, but then took command of the II corps, army of Tennessee. Serving well throughout the Atlanta campaign, where he brilliantly continued to stop Sherman. Promoted to Army command once it was bottled up in Atlanta, he counter attacked sometimes successfully against Sherman. He did bring up the Army’s morale, but his Lee-Jackson tactics didn’t work with his subordinates not cooperating. Often Criticized about only doing frontal charges, a tactic he only did once. He invaded Tennessee to draw out Sherman, which nearly worked. Often labeled a foolish raid that was stupid and not planned, when in fact it was much different. When in truth his invasion was the same exact tactic that Lee used by invading the north to draw out the enemy, and Lee didn’t have any planned strategy. But due to Subordinates he lost and Franklin and Nashville where he shortly after resigned.
2. Patrick Cleburne, Major General, CSA, Cleburne began as commanding a brigade in Hardee’s corps at Shiloh where he fought with distinction. Later commanded a division in Kirby Smith’s army where he successfully fought at the Battle of Richmond, KY. Later commanded a Division in Hardee’s II corps where he served well at Stone’s River. Later served under D. H. Hill at Chickamauga where he broke the line. Later in Hardee’s I corps, he held at Tunnel hill all day at Chattanooga, saving the Army’s flank. He later saved the army again at Ringgold gap, buying time for Bragg to retreat. Later submitted that the slaves should fight, but was rejected and because of that not promoted. The only division that was allowed to remain with it’s old flags. Served well in Atlanta, passed over by junior officers for corps command. Later he fought well at Franklin, where he broke the line and won the day but lost his life. A Brilliant officer but with bad politics.
1. D.H. Hill, Lieutenant General, CSA, Hill began as commanding a brigade at Big Bethel where he won a victory. Later served on the Peninsula, where he served well. Broke Keyes’ corps at Seven Pines, where he bore the brunt at the battle. Later fought well on the Peninsula, where he broke the union line at the Seven Days. Later fought at South Mountain, where his 5,000 held against 86,000 union for the entire day. Later served brilliantly at Antietam, and again at Fredericksburg. Considered for Corps command but dismissed though he was by far the better officer then the other Hill and Ewell. Later served brilliantly at Chickamauga when he commanded a corps. Relieved, later commanded a corps at Bentonville in his last hour of glory when he broke Slocum’s flank.
Well, that’s about it. I’d love your lists and thoughts! Thanks!
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