There already is a thread for the best general(s) of the war. How about the worst? By worst I mean those whose actions or lack thereoff either caused excessive casualties or extended the length of the war.
Finally, I would like to see at least one name from the Union and Confederate military. So even you diehard Rebels and Yankees need to admit some of the leadership on 'your side' may have left something to be desired.

My choices, in alphabetical order to make things fair, are...

Braxton Bragg CSA
Somewhat overlooked because he fought in the west but was responsible for an unbelievable string of loses. His penchant for blaming subordinants is unforgivable. He should have been relieved of command.

George McClellan USA
He has the Confederate capital virtually surrounded with vastly superior numbers and withdraws? No telling how long the war was extended because of his ineptitude.

Here's a link to check out too...
http://blueandgraytrail.com/features/worstgenerals.html

My votes go to.
Joseph E. Johnson
John B. HOOD after gettysburg
A.P. Hill
Braxton Bragg
Sibley
For the north...
Burnside
Hooker
Meade
McClellan
Sickles
Siegal
Butler
I never understood how these complete failures could be in command of a stable cleaning detail let alone an ARMY in Battle.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: OLDAO,

My candidates are; General Benjamin "Spoons" Butler and General Nathaniel Banks. Two born losers for the Union. Political generals of the worst kind.

Gen Franz Siegal for the Union
J.B. Hood for the Confeds

quote:

Originally posted by OLDAO:
My votes go to.
Joseph E. Johnson
John B. HOOD after gettysburg
A.P. Hill
Braxton Bragg
For the north...
Burnside
Hooker
Meade
McClellan
I never understood how these complete failures could be in command of a stable cleaning detail let alone an ARMY in Battle.

Some interesting selections. But why Meade? In the Union disaster that was Fredericksburg, Meade's division was the only one to come close the breaking the Confederate line.
He won the battle of Gettysburg but was criticised for not pursuing Lee afterwards. I believe he was demoted because at that point in the war, Lincoln was simply losing patience with the progress of his armies. One of his corp commanders, Daniel Sickles may have had something to do with the demotion. Sickles being loyal to Hooker, who Meade replaced.
Meade finished the war under the command of Grant. But among the worst? Maybe I missed something...

Scooter, McClellan was really an enigma. The man took a hundred thousand raw untrained, framboys, factory workers, city slickers and emmigrants of all kinds and ilk and made them one of the best armies in the world. But after one battle when he saw the sheer carnage and horror of the fight he ordered he, turned yellow. He didn't want to order the thing he created into battle to be hurt and destroyed again. The army that he loved and it loved him turned his head to the real purpose at hand.
He also, with this force had a weapon he could control the Union government. He was the savior of the Union, George McClellan and no one else.
I believe he turned yellow from that shocking scenes of battle because he then kept himself away where he would be safest during a conflict.
He believed that the Confederates in front of him,ie, in Richmond were twice as many as were actually there. He owed that bit of inteeligence, if you can it that, to Allan Pinkerton. Pinkerton was a complete babe in the woods concerning the military, its organization and operation. He also had a case of two-itis. Where there was one soldier, he saw two or three. Where there was one cannon, he saw a whole battery. MCClellan believes him and presses Lincoln for more troops.
Lee and Stuart do some quick shuffling of troops and start move away from Richmond. McClellan sees those one hundred twenty thousand troops that are going to swallow up his one hundred thousand and creat a disaster of epic proportions.
At Antitam after the first day of battle he had at least two for corps of troops he hadn't used or brought up to the battle. Longstreet confers with Lee and says, what are we going to do tomorrow if he comes at us with those two corps? We have nothing left."
Again shocked by the carnage and really not knowing how the battle was progressing, McClellan gave in to his fears of a Confederate army being bigger than it was and withdrew. He had stayed back away from the battle where he really couldn't keep a handle on it.
He needs to be recognized for his great efforts of training and making the Army of the Potomac a formidble fighting force, but he also needs to be remembered as the man who was afraid of losing it. It was once said about another general, but the quote fits McClellan too,"He was more worried about losing a battle, than fighting it in the first place."

Was Meade relieved of Command after Gettysburg?
IF I remember correctly, Meade Commanded the Army of the Potomac under Grant. Grant was in brought East to Command the Union Army. His HQ was in the field with the Army of the Potomac, Commanded by Meade.

Scooter, For all the reasons you listed. He was indesiesive. Always second guessing himself. Slow to react, and as you said was the only one that CAME CLOSE to breaking the line. Remember,close dont count. He was relieved of command. If you are a good General you are not fired.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: OLDAO,

To all of you who don't know why I picked Meade. You have answered your own question. He was the Ranking General. Then was relieved. He spent the rest of the war as a subordinate. Had he got his defecation in one receptacle he wouldn't have been demoted in command. Part of the fault was not his. He had Generals that stabbed him in the back and he didn't fire them. Dan sickles should have never been in the military. He was a politician turned General turned Politician and not that good at either vocation. he should have been court marshalled. I am glad you brought his name up. I will add him to my list. Another was Ben Butler. The dictator of New Orleans. I don't think I'm too far off on my list. Remember, The question was WHO do WE think was the worst General.

Charles is right in the fact Meade was the ranking Union general in the field. (As CO of the Army of the Potomac) But when Grant came East in March 1864 and was promoted to Lieutenant General, he became the ranking officer and Overall commander of all Union forces. Meade was shuffled back to only command of the Army of the Potomac. Grant decided to make his HQ in the field with that army. He was a hands on commander and left the back stabbing and political shannigans to Halleck in Washington.
Daniel sickles, wow there is one character that is an original and no one has ever come close to exploits, crass and just plain boldness that he was.
I have to disagree with Charles about sickles being a politician. The man was at his best in the rough and tumble beat-um up political world of 19th century New York politics.
There is a book out called "Sickles the Incredible." I have forgotten who wrote it, but if you haven't read it do so. It is truly amazing!
Sickles was man who if he saw something that needed done, he would do it. If he disagreed with something and knew he was right, he'd go ahead and do it. He had enough charisma and several fortunes to be able to accomplish it.
He was the first man, husband to use the temporary insanity defense to win his murder case where he killed his wife's lover. Who was Francis Scott Key's son. Edwin Stantion was Sickles' defense attorney. That name should ring a bell.
Then when sickles saw the position that he and his coprs were to defend at Gettysburg, even Sickles, an amtuer could see it was a lousy one and would have resulted in Longstreet's corps going around and flanking the Union position. So he moved his corps forward 300 hundred yards.
When Meade saw them moving he reportedly took off his hat, slapped his thigh with it and cussed Sickles. He rode over to Sickles and asked him to explain what he was doing? sickles explained and Meade saw that he was right. Meade promised to send him troops to block off sickles' open flank. Besides at that time Longstreet's people were less than a thousand yards away.
The troops with Governuer Warren and Strong Vicent were those support troops that Meade sent. Warren scouting ahead and on the round Tops saw there was no Union troops there, so he pulled Vincent's brigade to cover it. Mean while sickles corps is getting the crap kicked out of it, but their blood and Sickles' leg bought just enough time to get those troops up and around Little Round Top. ONLY Sickles could become a hero by disobeying orders. He lost part of his one leg and milked that for the rest of his life.
He was ambassador to Spain after the CW and was one of the Spanish queen's lovers. Just simply an incredible individual.

I always wondered how Burnside felt after Federicksburg. Being demoted back to a Corps Command in the Army he'd Commanded.

you Gumby that is really a good question. There is a new book that written about Burnside, but I haven't gotten a chance to read it yet.
He told Washington that was not up to commanding the army. He said, "I doubt that I can command this army and achieve the necessary results you require." I don't know if the price of self vindication was worth 12,000+ casaulties. But there had to be some feelings of self loathing there after the Federickburg debacle Still a very good question that bears serious thinking on.

Wow! it is time to get a new keyboard. This thing is not working right.

Well now, since we are on a first name basis, Daryl. I prefer Chuck. I will stand behind or in front of my statement. I have, in other posts said I am not an expert and my knowledge of the BIG war in the east is limited. IN my opinion Dan Sickles was an opportunist. He had his flashes of brilliance and blunder. The latter out pacing the former. He got away with murder by claiming temporary insanity then then continued on with politics. Some things never change. He was out chasing rainbows getting his star polished instead of taking care of the home front.Who dose that remind you of ? In your choices you picked Benjamin Butler. If memory serves me right his biggest claim to fame was as Military administrator New Orleans. He was despised by even his own troops for his handling of the people under his control. The sobriquent of Butler the Beast was not a term of endearment. After being relieved of his position in New Orleans in 63.He was relieved of his position in the east by Grant in 64. I think his removal was from the Army. Another politician turned General turned Politician Then again, I could be wrong.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: OLDAO,

Thank you Chuck, I didn't particualy like saying OLDAO all the time so I stuck out my neck and said "Charles," I hope I wasn't too bold and rude in doing that. Please do call me Darryl or Jeb, I'll answer to both. Don't worry about spelling Darryl right, I'll know who you're talking to.
You are absolutely right in your thoughts about SicKles. The man WAS an opportunist and that was what helped him gain alot of his recognition. He raised the Excelsior Brigade, camped them on a race track, got them the best of everything and when they left New York, stiffed all the creditors he owed money for equipment and supplies for the brigade!
Incredible.
Yes, "Old Spoons" he was supposed to move up from the James River area in 1864, but got himself pinned down in the Bermuda Hundred area.Grant did relieve him and Butler did go back to congress and politics after the war.
Reminds me of Robert MacNamara, is a failure at his job positions, but continues to get promoted.

No problem darryl. The only person that ever called me charles was my mom and only when I was in deep DOO DOO.

quote:

Originally posted by OLDAO:
Scooter, For all the reasons you listed. He was indesiesive. Always second guessing himself. Slow to react, and as you said was the only one that CAME CLOSE to breaking the line. Remember,close dont count. He was relieved of command. If you are a good General you are not fired.

I thought he was just average. Call him Meade-iocre if you will.

McClellan did an outstanding job of training an army for battle but was, in my opinion, a terrible combat officer.

I agree with your assessment. Meadeocre is about right. To me he always seem to have an inferiority complex. He always thought the Rebels had more men, he never really trusted his Generals ( I can understand that feeling) And was always worried about losing which cost him dearly in the end. I think he really cared for his troops but his hesitancy cost the lives of more men than if he had attacked and perhaps won the battle.

McClellan didn't just pack up and leave the gates of Richmond: General Lee defeated his army and nearly trapped it on the peninsula. This was Stonewall Jackson's most infamous and inexplicable failure at the white oak swamp.

My vote for our worst general wouldn't be Bragg. The problem was as much him as his failing command structure, even though he had some excellent subordinates, they wouldn't listen. Across from him Rosecrans had great generals but couldn't use them.

Our worst was JB Hood, who was a great combat leader but was doped up and thus squandered our last chance for independence. Was it him or the pain killer? Either way it was a bad choice and the AoT should have had Hardee as commander, as Lee had suggested.

The worst enemy general was Burnside. Fredericksburg aside, he failed pretty bad at Antietam and charging into the Crater in the Petersburg siege.

quote:

Originally posted by Thrust_0311:
McClellan didn't just pack up and leave the gates of Richmond: General Lee defeated his army and nearly trapped it on the peninsula. This was Stonewall Jackson's most infamous and inexplicable failure at the white oak swamp.

My vote for our worst general wouldn't be Bragg. The problem was as much him as his failing command structure, even though he had some excellent subordinates, they wouldn't listen. Across from him Rosecrans had great generals but couldn't use them.

Our worst was JB Hood, who was a great combat leader but was doped up and thus squandered our last chance for independence. Was it him or the pain killer? Either way it was a bad choice and the AoT should have had Hardee as commander, as Lee had suggested.

The worst enemy general was Burnside. Fredericksburg aside, he failed pretty bad at Antietam and charging into the Crater in the Petersburg siege.

I am in agreement with you on all points.