The Frustration of Studying the Civil War

Lieutenant General Nathan Bedford Forrest

       Someone recently called my attention to a Civil War talk board online that mentioned a youtube video I posted several years ago. You would be surprised at some of the names I was called because some of these people didn't agree with my ranking of the Confederate lieutenant generals. If they had bothered to read the introduction they would have learned that I made the video just for fun and to spark some discussion, but now I've learned that I'm an idiot. The computer reminds me of the same people who drive automobiles. Behind a keyboard or a steering wheel it seems many of us become something we wouldn't be in person. If someone doesn't agree with your opinion, then you must be an idiot. It can't possibly be that they are the idiot, that would destroy the perfect world they've created in their own minds. 

       Is there no such of thing as friendly discussion with rational arguments anymore? After further study of my subject, I can honestly say I don't agree any longer with the way I have some of them ranked. One person called me an idiot because I didn't include General Beauregard in the list. It doesn't matter that Beauregard was never ranked as a lieutenant general, but was promoted from brigadier general to full general skipping the ranks of major general and lieutenant general, but of course, I'm the idiot. 

       In my "for fun" video, I ranked Stonewall Jackson as the best lieutenant general. Most people agreed with that choice, but after that I really rankled some feathers. I was attacked because I ranked Bedford Forrest second. The reason given was because Forrest wasn't promoted to lieutenant general until March 2, 1865 and this person called me an idiot for ranking him second when he only served as lieutenant general for a month and that isn't enough time to see how well he commanded at the corps level. What this genius fails to realize is the fact that Forrest had been commanding a cavalry corps since 1863 without having been promoted. Just because he wasn't ranked a lieutenant general, didn't mean he wasn't an excellent corps commander for two years. When he was promoted, his position as corps commander never changed, so why can we not judge him on his corps leadership ability for those two years. 

       The one that always gets peoples feathers ruffled is James Longstreet. Ever since the movie Gettysburg came out, he has been claimed by many people to be the greatest commander of the war. In this country today, all it takes is a fictional movie based on a fictional novel to change peoples perception of someone. Longstreet obviously fits this category. If I had a nickel for every time someone watched that movie and told me that Lee would have won at Gettysburg if he'd just listened to Longstreet. The move Longstreet proposed was expected by Meade and he was just itching to retreat to a better position on Pipe Creek. Without cavalry present (Jeb Stuart was off on a useless raid) it would have been almost impossible to perform the flanking move without Stuart's cavalry screen. Another question I have about Longstreet is why he made the move he made in Knoxville, Tennessee later the same year. On November 9, 1863, Longstreet assaulted Fort Sanders with around 3000 men. The fort only held a little over 400 Federal troops, yet the attack was a disaster. Longstreet lost over 800 men compared to just 13 Federal casualties he inflicted. Instead of responding as General Lee would have done and took the blame, he immediately began to emulate Braxton Bragg by arresting his subordinates. The mark of a true leader is when he takes the blame for his mistakes.

       If I had the video to make over, I'm sure there are several I would reorder. I ranked Jubal Early high because of his advance to the outskirts of Washington and Wade Hampton because of I felt he was an excellent cavalry corps commander especially his Beefsteak Raid. S.D. Lee I feel like I may have ranked too high. He made a severe mistake at Ezra Chruch and failed Hood at Columbia, Tennessee, however he helped save the army during the Battle of Nashville. I perhaps ranked Richard Heron Anderson low because of how he allowed his staff to run his forces. There were times when he acted like he had little interest in the war. Hardee is perhaps ranked too low because he was called "Ole Reliable," however he was the biggest back biter in the army. He undermined all of his superiors including Sidney Johnston, Braxton Bragg, Joseph Johnston, and John Bell Hood. However, when offered command of the army, he refused the responsibility. 

       Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of A.P. Hill, but he was often rash, just look at his actions at Bristoe Station. He was impulsive and got a lot of good men killed by his aggressiveness. He can be compared to the way General Hood is often perceived. The lieutenant general in my personal opinion that I believe should be ranked in the top five is D.H. Hill. He only saw action as a corps commander at Chickamauga was the reason I ranked him low, but he was a dependable commander and if he didn't suffer from chronic back pain which left him extremely sarcastic to subordinates and superiors alike he may have reached his true potential. He became so rude to others that General Lee was happy to see his dependable subordinate transferred to Bragg's army.

       I won't go into all the lieutenant generals that I listed. The full generals were listed in another video and I didn't rank them with the officers that only reached the rank of lieutenant general. If people would slow down long enough to read the descriptions of the videos before they decide to attack someone, they may find there is little reason to become so upset and insult others. 

George Pickett the Great Commander

George Pickett the Great Commander

George Edward Pickett

Historian Thomas Desjardin noted, “General George Pickett commanded only about half of the troops who made the assault known today as 'Pickett's Charge'.”

The historical novel “The Killer Angels” by Michael Shaara describes Pickett as follows, “Gaudy and lovable, long-haired, perfumed. Last in his class at West Point, he makes up for a lack of wisdom with a lusty exuberance.”

Pickett did love a good time, but also a stiff drink. He was noted for his love of alcohol while a cadet at West Point. He was also noted for his arrogance. When Lee was asked for a lock of his hair, he turned it down saying he could hardly afford to give up any, but they might ask Pickett because of his long ringlets. The joke upset Pickett who didn't think it a bit funny.

James Dearing noted, “Pickett is not noted for keeping his temper...he ripped out with a whole handful of pretty strong words.”

Major John C. Haskell talking about Pickett's being wounded in the shoulder at Gaines Mill portrayed Pickett as anything but heroic. He claimed after Pickett was wounded, he was found “standing by his horse in a small hollow...bewailing himself. He called to me to send a litter as he was mortally wounded. I had none and was too busy with my men. He was very slightly wounded and perfectly able to take care of himself.”

Eppa Hunton who was known to dislike Pickett complained about he and his staff lying low on their horses when in an exposed position at Suffolk. Hunton of course rode erect to inspire his men. Hunton also noted that Pickett was a great and honorable soldier up until the time he engaged and married. He then began to lose his desire for battlefield heroics. There is a lot of truth in this statement.

Longstreet ever the friend grew tired of Pickett leaving his command during the night. Pickett decided to ask Sorrel for permission instead. Longstreet's aide Moxley Sorrel declined to take responsibility for Pickett's absence in case his division was attacked. Sorrel wrote, “Pickett went all the same, nothing could hold him back from that pursuit. I don't think his division benefited from such carpet-knight doings on the field.”

Historian Lesley Gordon stated, “His frequent absences, constant complaining, and bungling of even the simplest of orders, however, marked Pickett as an unreliable division leader.”

Following his failure at Gettysburg, he was sent to take New Berne and again failed miserably. The stress of responsibility was growing. His temper was showing a short fuse. When twenty-two men who had once been members of the North Carolina Home guard, yet had deserted to join the Union were captured, Pickett had a chance to take out his frustrations on someone other than himself. He had the prisoners hanged against the protest of Union General John J. Peck.

One Confederate overheard Pickett yell at two of the prisoners just before the court martial trial began, “God damn you, I reckon you will hardly ever go back there again, you damned rascals; I'll have you shot, and all other damned rascals who desert.”

It's quite possible that Pickett's friendship with Lieutenant General James Longstreet was the reason he was retained in command despite all his failures. The two men had been friends since the Mexican War when they'd fought side by side. Moxley Sorrel, an aide to Longstreet wrote, “I could always see how Longstreet looked after Pickett, and made us give him things very fully; indeed sometimes stay with him to make sure he did not get astray.”

When Bragg began to berate Pickett for his panicking about the Federal troop movements, Pickett requested to return to Longstreet's corps. Longstreet went so far as to write a letter to the war department asking that Pickett be returned to his command. On May 9, 1864, it seems that George Edward Pickett possibly suffered a nervous breakdown. Despite this setback, he would soon return to command of his old division.

Lee and Longstreet sent Pickett with his division and other troops under his command to Five Forks, the extreme right flank of Lee's army. There Pickett would command 19,000 men against Sheridan's 50,000 men. The odds were long, but they'd always been long for the Confederate army. Pickett marched toward the field on March 30 and his handling of his troops was questioned by many that witnessed his advance. The next morning, Pickett's men attacked Sheridan's troops and drove them from the field, With daylight still remaining and the Federal army in full retreat, Pickett inexplicably called off the attack. The next day on April 1, 1865, with Sheridan's men regrouped and moving against his force, Pickett did the unthinkable. Despite Lee's orders for him to hold Five Forks at all hazards, Pickett left the field. Pickett and cavalry commander Fitzhugh Lee moved several miles to the rear to attend a shad bake hosted by cavalry brigade commander Tom Rosser. While they ate and possible drank brandy, Pickett ignored reports of the attack against his troops.

As his line collapsed, Pickett mounted his horse and raced from the field. When one of Rooney Lee's couriers attempted to deliver a message to Pickett, he shouted for the man not to talk to him and continued his retreat. Pickett would lose over 4,000 men in the fiasco. It was the beginning of the end for General Lee's army.

Just before the surrender of the army, Robert E. Lee saw Pickett and asked his aides, “Is that man still with this army?” 

The Myth of Confederate General James Longstreet

James Longstreet

       I'm often amazed at the many people who have come to refer to James Longstreet as one of the greatest defensive general's of the Civil War and how the South would have won the Battle of Gettysburg if Lee would have followed his advice. I blame the movie Gettysburg and the book The Killer Angels for starting this myth. I believe we could rewrite everything in history by putting it on the big screen. Before all the Longstreet fans become upset with me please allow me to finish.

       In defense of Longstreet, he did not want to fight the battle at Gettysburg. He wanted Lee to move around the right and entrench between Meade's army and Washington, thus forcing Meade to make a disastrous frontal assault to try to save his capital. The problem that is so often overlooked is the fact that this is the exact move Meade was anticipating and watching for. He'd informed his cavalry to watch for signs of Lee attempting to move around his flanks. He'd set up an excellent defensive position on the heights behind Pipe Creek in Maryland. Meade didn't want to fight at Gettysburg any more than Longstreet did. He thought the position wasn't strong enough. 

       Another myth many believe is that Longstreet had no ambition to higher command. He did everything he possibly could to gain the command of the Army of Tennessee. He arrived at Chickamauga with his corps and joined Bragg's army against Federal General Rosecrans. Granted, Longstreet arrived in mid-battle, there is no controversy about him asking Bragg to move around Rosecrans flank. The battle was fought as another frontal assault and this just two months following the battle at Gettysburg. 

The Battle of Fort Sanders

       Worse still, Longstreet moved his corps to Knoxville, Tennessee a month later and assaulted Fort Sanders which contained 440 Federal troops with 3,000 of his men. This assault was an utter failure. The battle cost him 813 casualties and only inflicted 13 on the enemy troops in the fort. Does this sound like the ultimate defensive commander? 

       Which brings me to the question of whether Longstreet would have been a better commander than Braxton Bragg. I read once where a historian had said that what made Lee such a great commander is his ability to take full responsibility when a battle was lost. The historian actually said, "Where Lee could say it was all his fault, Bragg would have choked on the words." I can add that Longstreet would have choked on the words also. After the battle at Knoxville, Longstreet did the same thing Bragg was famous for, he began arresting his subordinates. He arrested Major General Lafayette McLaws and Brigadier General Jerome Bonaparte Robertson for the disaster. Longstreet admitted after the war that he'd done McLaws an injustice. 

Longstreet Monument at Gettysburg

       Going a step farther about how movies affect history, one need only to look at the monument of Longstreet at Gettysburg. In the book These Honored Dead by Thomas Desjardin he refers to the problems with this monument. I'll just insert a quote from his book here. "Despite the work of historians that shows Longstreet was wearing an officers 'kepi' style hat during the battle, and wartime photos that show his long narrow beard, the solid metal image that future generations will see at Gettysburg is the image of...well...Tom Berenger, the actor who played Longstreet in the movie with a horribly false, wide beard and a hat reminiscent of a western cowboy." Because of the size of the man mounted on the horse, many Civil War buffs have nicknamed the monument 'The Troll on the Pony.'

       I'm not here to bash Longstreet. I think he was a fine commander. All commanders make mistakes. Even Lee and Jackson made mistakes. I'm just saying Longstreet has been built up beyond what he truly was by the big screen and one of my favorite actors Tom Berenger.