re: Better Confederate General: Jackson or Longstreet?

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On the other hand, he didn't have much common sense in vital areas, which ultimately led to his death.

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Could you elaborate on your whole post, please?

How did Jackson lack common sense? He realized that he needed to lead from the front and push his men to "press on" in order to keep the initiative.

In what way was Jackson "the greatest tactical leader in US history"? He mishandled some battles, such as the Seven Days.

How could Lee's entire legacy be made by Jackson when Lee continued to build his legacy for two years after Jackson died in May, 1863?

Longstreet perhaps just a little better defensively, but they're so close in that regard. Jackson much better with maneuver, so that gives him the edge overall.

That's what made the war so interesting for over 2 years - despite all of the North's advantages, they got about 12 good generals from the antebellum army - while the South got about 60, including, probably 15 of the top 20.

That's why Lincoln pulled him with the quickness.

Longstreet was but a shadow of what Stonwall Jackson was.

So true. His performance in the Valley was second to none in US history. He performed best though when he had an Independent command. His biggest blunders came when his division was merged into another command and he was placed in subordinate role. Lots of miscommunication occurred when his command was sent east from the Valley to merge with Longstreets corp on the coastal plains around Richmond. But no General during that war came close to what he did in the Valley campaign.

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Jackson excelled at gurellia warfare...

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I'm pretty sure he learned that in the Mexican War.

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J.E.B Stuart

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Fearless, brash, brilliant tactician, but wouldn't follow orders. Left Lee hanging at Gettysburg. If he had been in the US Army, I could see him eventually meeting the same fate as Custer.

Jackson. in fact, lee even said that, if Jackson doesn't die, we win the war easily due to his artillery skills. he would wipe out half the line before guns were drawn.

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Forrest.

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Enlisted as a private of volunteers, finished as a general officer.

Began the war as a millionaire, ended it as a pauper.

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Jackson. in fact, lee even said that, if Jackson doesn't die, we win the war easily due to his artillery skills. he would wipe out half the line before guns were drawn.

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Lee was being hyperbolic, or was mistaken. The Union had too many logistical and manpower advantages. The outcome was a fait accompli before the war began. It was only a matter of how long it would take. Even if Jackson won every battle he fought in the East, he couldn't be in two places at once, so he couldn't have kept Vicksburg from falling, or Sherman from marching through GA and SC.