I'm going to jump on this thread to insert a quote attributed to General R.E.LEE after the Battle of Gettysberg. In August of 1863 he asked Jefferson Davis to accept his resination,whitch was refused. In his request he said::No blame can beattached to the army for it's failuer to accomplish what was projected by me. I alone am to blame in perhaps expecting too much of it's prowess and valor... Could I have forseen that the attack of the last day would have failed, I certainly would have tried some other course. I do not know what better course I could have persued. My point and reason for making this late post is to reaffirm my statement earlier. Even in thought's and reflection General LEE could not see where he should have listened to what Longstreet, Trimble & Hood suggested.

If, on the other hand, Longstreet had listened to his commanding officer and attacked in the morning, the retrospect may have come from the other side instead.

quote:

Originally posted by Thrust_0311:
If, on the other hand, Longstreet had listened to his commanding officer and attacked in the morning, the retrospect may have come from the other side instead.

Point taken my friend

quote:

Originally posted by Thrust_0311:
If, on the other hand, Longstreet had listened to his commanding officer and attacked in the morning, the retrospect may have come from the other side instead.

Thrust, Here's a book for you to read, about Longstreet. Confederate Struggle for command. The book deal's with Longstreet and the first corps of the west. If you havn't read it ,DO.

Gen'l Lee should have had a leash on his hound JEB and would have had a better screen and more up to date intel.
The federal army was off balance the 1st day. All availible forces could have been pushed up and the outcome may have been differant. Or shifted further south to bypass that little rocky hill and come up the Tannytown Rd (I believe thats the right road) and rolled the flank up into its self. But we're speculating on what if.

Asking who was the best general of the War Between the States is a really tough question.

I have a Master's Degree in Civil War History, I have looked at all the generals in different aspects. This is my opinion:

General Robert E Lee was an excellent general, he was the last of the gentleman generals, he had an honor code that reflected Virginia and the Old South. General Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia were fighting on home ground, they did not have to fight to win the 'hearts and minds'. Longstreet was excellent in the defence, Jackson was agressive and determined, and JEB Stewart was bold and dareing. The four, when working together complimented each other. Last but not least Lee trusted the three.

After the loss of Jackson the Army of Northern Virginia was saddled with generals who were not quite up to par. A. P. Hill was continually suffering alement, most likely brought on by syliphis (sic), Ewell had lost a leg and was not as agressive as Jackson.

At the battle of Gettysburg Lee was given bad information by Longstreet and Ewell. The two did not commuicate to coordinate the attacks as Lee wanted. Lee expected that Ewell and Hill would have been as agressive as Jackson, such was not the case. JEB Stewart's cavalry was not the only Confederate cavalry with the Army of Northern Virginia, the old excuse to blame Gettysburg on Stewart does not wash.

Grant was a 'total war general' he made not only the Army suffer, he took the fight to the civilians, his generals Sherdian and Sherman were on the same calaber, and 'made the people howl'.

Another consideration is that Davis wanted to protect Richmond, what better way to do that than keep you better generals between the Army of the Potomac and the Capital.

The Union Army wanted to cut off the supply routes of the Confederacy.
Ask your self what do all the Confederate States have in common....the answer: Water ways, even Tennessee had the Mississippi River. The other overlooked aspect of the war..what was going on in Mexico? The French were fighting the Mexicans, the French were also supplying the Confederacy. There for the Union were sending there best generals to the Missisippi and Tennessee theraters, where as President Davis was sending he lesser generals there.

It has also been said the had General Albert Sidney Johnston lived he was and/or would have been the best of the Confederate Generals.

General Hardee who wrote "Hardee's Infantry Tatics" was also brilliant however he could not get along with Bragg.

General Hancock of the Union Army was also a brilliant general, however he had to deal with Burnside and Hooker.

Over all you have to ask your self which general in which theater was the best general.