dave
Brigadier General
Posts: 1,679
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Post by dave on Nov 22, 2016 22:16:09 GMT
Beth Sherman and Sheridan come to mind when discussing the subject of "total war" since they were the most famous practitioners on either side. Not addressing partisans such as Quantrill and Anderson, history has always favored the Eastern Campaign over the Western Theater and that means Robert E Lee is the focus.
Courtly and chivalrous was his character and during both excursions into Federal territory he explicitly ordered his command to forbear any raids, wanton acts of destruction and abuse of private citizens and their property. He demanded that all animals, crops or foodstuffs be paid for, albeit in Confederate money. Lee was the heart of the "Lost Cause" and the beau ideal of a Rebel soldier.
There are so many over-sentimental memoirs, myths, diaries, unit histories and accounts that have hindered the study of the actual men who lead the Confederate forces. Only within the last 50 to 60 years have the real stories behind the men are being clear. The South never had a chance to win the War or really invade the North in any strength after Gettysburg.
I suspicion that had the opportunity been available that Forrest, not a gentleman, would have conducted a campaign like Sherman. Regards Dave
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Post by sgttyree on Jul 8, 2017 15:05:47 GMT
I hope no one minds a bump to this old thread because it's an interesting comparison.
Custer and Stuart both cut a dashing figure but I don't see many commonalities beyond that. I'm not a Custer hater, but I believe he can be compared to Stuart in a superficial sense only.
Stuart was highly skilled and superbly able in all cavalry tasks, not just attacks or shock actions. Even after Lee (apparently) chewed a chunk of *** off of him at Gettysburg, Stuart took it like the pro he was and his conduct of the fighting withdrawal is an example of a professional cavalry commander in action. Can anyone imagine another cavalry commander from either side that could have conducted that fighting withdrawal as well? I can think of one, maybe: Wade Hampton. And Hampton was a Stuart protégé, of sorts.
Stuart also understood artillery employment and did a great job commanding an infantry corps after Jackson's death.
I believe Stuart was the consummate professional cavalry commander. He was so much more than just a "Bold Cavalier."
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Post by deadwoodgultch on Jul 8, 2017 17:21:06 GMT
You will get no argument from this quarter. Stuart had some warts, for a commander, but that commander dealt with them. I live about 25 mins. from Yellow Tavern and about 30 from The Wilderness. The long grass calls.
Regards, Tom
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Post by quincannon on Jul 8, 2017 17:50:41 GMT
Tyree: I can only think of two major mistakes Stuart made during the course of the ACW. Both of them were during the Second Manassas Campaign. I have studied Stuart a lot and agree that his covering the withdrawal from Gettysburg was masterfully handled.
The two mistakes were
Failing to adequately coordinate the movements of Fitz Lee's timely arrival at Viedersville, which caused the ford to remain open so Union cavalry could take a peek at Lee's preparations for a movement around Pope's right flank, something that never came off because Stuart failed to coordinate the timely arrival of Fitz Lee to block that ford.
The second was even worse. On the afternoon of 31 August 62 Stuart with Fitz Lee's brigade in the van of Jackson's Corps moved down the Little River Turnpike, passed Chantilly Plantation and Ox Hill, to a vantage point where Interstate 66 presently passes under U S Route 50. There they saw Pope's trains retreating up the Warrenton Pike and turning right on the Little River toward Fairfax, then to Annandale. Instead of back peddling and reporting what he found to Jackson, he brings up a pair of guns and starts shelling those wagons.
He thinks he has played a hell of a good joke on Pope, then he pulls back to Navy School, puts the brigade into bivouac, then takes his frigging banjo player and goes to sporting some filly over at Frying Pan Church. To the best of my knowledge he never tells Jackson what he saw. He unmasked the fact that Rebels were on the Turnpike, and Kearny and Steven's divisions block Jackson the next day when Jackson tries to break through to the Jermaintown Crossroads, which could have cut off and trapped Pope. Stupid Shit.
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