Greatest American Generals...your call

[ACStrider]

Alright. Thanks for the contributions everyone. The poll will include the generals suggested and below I'll add a short synopsis of the comments mentioned supporting their recommendation. Thanks again everyone! It's been very interesting to read all the comments.

George Washington - Commander of the Colonial army in the mid-Atlantic region. Held a rag-tag army together to stand against the most trained army of his day. Showed remarkable resolve and manuaverablility with the forces that he commanded.

Robert E. Lee - Most recognizable general of the CSA in the civil war. Defended Northern invasion of northern Virginia with distinction and eventually led an invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania despite being greatly outnumbered.

George S. Patton - Tank commander in the Second World War. Spearheaded successful campaigns in North Africa, Italy and most notably in France where he gained 600 miles of ground in a two week period. Also had to contend with the likes of Montgomery, a feat within itself .

Ulysses S. Grant - Most recognized general of the USA in the civil war. Engaged in a remarkable campaign in the trans-Mississippi region which resulted in the fall of the fortress at Vicksburg. Eventually was transfered to the eastern theatre where he engaged in a war of attrition which resulted in the fall of the Army of Northern Virginia.

William T. Sherman - Despised by die-hard southerners for his concept of total war. Assisted Grant in his seige of Vicksburg then led a series of battles for the city of Atlanta and led a campaign titled the "March to the Sea" which resulted in splitting the South down the middle. His theories on warfare would go survive well beyond his years.

George Rogers Clark - Revolutionary War general in the west who, despite a force of only 150 soldiers, fought and defeated all opposition he faced (often without fighting at all). Influenced the negotiations of the Northwest territory and relations with the indians in the region.

Omar Bradley - Held the highest command of any general in the army. Was the favored commander in the European theater of operations during the Second World War because of his compassion and consideration of his soldiers. Was the primary tactical commander at Normandy and throughout the rest of the war in France.

Dwight D. Eisenhower - Supreme commander of the Allied forces in the Second World War. Organized and balanced the generals from the allied forces for invasions of Africa, Italy and France. Coordinated all of the branches of the armed services for a successful campaign in Europe.

Douglas MacArthur - Gutsy general in the Pacific theatre of operations in the Second World War. Engaged in a "hit 'em where they 'aint" strategy to recapture territory from the Japanese. Later would be a successful, albeit outspoken general in the Korean war before being relieved of duty due to disagreements about strategy with President Truman.

Winfield Scott - Most influential general in the first 100 years of our history. Fought in the war of 1812, several indian conflicts, the Mexican-American war and the Civil War. Led a brilliant series of battles in Mexico before being let go for political reasons and was responsible for the "Anaconda plan" which resulted in the blocade of the southern ports in the Civil War.

Well, that's the list! I know that there were others mentioned out there, but I had to pick 10, so I went with these listed. Please don't feel slighted if your recommendation didn't make the list (can't please everyone 'ya know)

Draft Dodger - I wasn't sure if you were refering to Albert Mills who received a medal of honor or to Samuel Mills Jr. who was a famous artillary commander.

Bee - Sorry, you strike out twice. Jackson wasn't a head commander, only a division commander, and since he was your first choice, General Bee gets knocked out too.

[Abe Sargent]

Hell, Benedict Arnold was a better general than Washington who was a good logistics man but nowhere near an actual battle on the field victory. (Cornwallis surrendered to him because he was not French and Aristocratic. Valley Forge was, essentially, a victory of logistics and surprise, not of battle acumen)

Grant just simply threw troops at Lee knowing that he'd have to fall sooner or later. I know that the Union went through a gadzillion generals before Grant came along, but there was nothing that amazing or extraordinary about his generalship.


Several Generals were good on one front, but were too one-dimensional. So they may have been successful, but they were more specialists. Like Patton or Clark.


I think the smart money is on Winfred Scott, who people in the know probably vote for. Lee was pretty good with what he had, Sherman understood the true nature of Sun Tzu warfare, but he didn't have the oppositions that others had. MacArthur was a bit...unstable.

Hell, I understand that this is "generals," but there are a few admirals I like better if this were "Best Military Mind of the US." But, since I have to vote - Winfred Scott.

-Anxiety

[Bee]

Originally posted by ACStrider

Bee - Sorry, you strike out twice. Jackson wasn't a head commander, only a division commander, and since he was your first choice, General Bee gets knocked out too.

Fix!

You're just afraid General Bee will completely dominate the voting and render your poll worthless!!!



Edit:
I guess I'll have to pick one of the inferior generals you've listed...

[JPhillips]

Anxiety: You aren't giving Grant enough credit. He was a master at coordinated movements of his armies. It was his combined assaults on Lee, Johnston/Hood, and other smaller fronts that led to the South's collapse. What Grant did may seem obvious but remember that a long line of Union generals couldn't do what Grant did.

Finally, I leave you with this quote from Sherman:

"I'm a damn sight smarter than Grant; I know more about organization, supply and administration and about everything else than he does; but I'll tell you where he beats me and where he beats the world. He don't care a damn for what the enemy does out of his sight, but it scares me like hell."

and this from Southern General Richard Ewell in 1861:

"There is one West Pointer, I think in Missouri, little known, and whom I hope the Northern people will not find out. I mean Sam Grant. I knew him in the Academy and in Mexico. I should fear him more than any of their officers I have yet heard of..."