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I asked Grok to rank the Top 10 greatest U.S. Generals in our 250 years of history...
Posted on 1/30/26 at 1:50 pm
Posted on 1/30/26 at 1:50 pm
His list will no doubt spawn some debate on this board:
1. George Washington
George Washington tops the list as the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. His strategic success lay in maintaining the army's cohesion over years of hardship, avoiding decisive defeats, and coordinating alliances, such as with the French at Yorktown. Tactically, he excelled in surprise attacks like the crossing of the Delaware River leading to victory at Trenton, which boosted morale and sustained the revolution.
2. Ulysses S. Grant
Grant's relentless pursuit of victory defined the Union effort in the Civil War. Strategically, he coordinated multiple armies to overwhelm the Confederacy, culminating in the surrender at Appomattox. Tactically, his innovative siege at Vicksburg split the South in two, and his Overland Campaign, despite high casualties, pinned down Lee's forces, demonstrating dogged determination and adaptability.
3. Robert E. Lee
Lee ranks highly for tactical mastery and audacious offensives despite severe resource disadvantages. Victories like the Seven Days Battles, Second Bull Run, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville showcased brilliant maneuvers and morale inspiration. Strategically, he prolonged the war far beyond expectations for the South, though invasions (Antietam, Gettysburg) ultimately failed.
4. Dwight D. Eisenhower
As Supreme Allied Commander in World War II, Eisenhower's strategic genius shone in orchestrating the largest amphibious invasion in history at Normandy (D-Day) and managing coalition forces across Europe. Tactically, he oversaw operations like the breakout from Normandy and the Ardennes counteroffensive, balancing resources and egos to achieve total victory over Nazi Germany.
5. George S. Patton
Patton was a master of mobile warfare in World War II, leading the Third Army's rapid advances across Europe. Strategically, he contributed to the Allied push post-Normandy, relieving Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. Tactically, his aggressive armored tactics, emphasizing speed and surprise, outmaneuvered German forces, earning him respect even from enemies for his bold, high-tempo operations.
6. William T. Sherman
Sherman's "March to the Sea" exemplified total war strategy in the Civil War, crippling Confederate infrastructure and morale without major battles. Strategically, he captured Atlanta, boosting Northern support for Lincoln's reelection. Tactically, his maneuvers in the Atlanta Campaign outflanked and wore down opponents, showcasing innovative logistics and psychological warfare.
7. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson
Jackson's Valley Campaign distracted Union forces with lightning marches and surprise attacks, while tactical brilliance at Chancellorsville (flanking Hooker) was legendary. His early death limited broader impact, but he maximized limited resources.
8. Winfield Scott
Known for the "Anaconda Plan" that outlined the Union's Civil War strategy of blockade and division, Scott also led decisive victories in the Mexican-American War. Strategically, his plan shaped the war's course. Tactically, he captured Mexico City through amphibious assault at Veracruz and inland battles, demonstrating logistical prowess over vast distances.
9. James Longstreet
Lee's "Old War Horse" excelled defensively (Fredericksburg's sunken road) and offensively when trusted (Chickamauga breakthrough). Strategically, he advocated attrition over risky offensives, with strong tactical execution in key battles.
10. Nathanael Green
Greene's southern campaign in the Revolutionary War wore down British forces through attrition without major engagements. Strategically, he reclaimed the South by forcing Cornwallis into costly pursuits. Tactically, battles like Guilford Court House inflicted disproportionate casualties, setting the stage for Yorktown and demonstrating guerrilla-like flexibility.
1. George Washington
George Washington tops the list as the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. His strategic success lay in maintaining the army's cohesion over years of hardship, avoiding decisive defeats, and coordinating alliances, such as with the French at Yorktown. Tactically, he excelled in surprise attacks like the crossing of the Delaware River leading to victory at Trenton, which boosted morale and sustained the revolution.
2. Ulysses S. Grant
Grant's relentless pursuit of victory defined the Union effort in the Civil War. Strategically, he coordinated multiple armies to overwhelm the Confederacy, culminating in the surrender at Appomattox. Tactically, his innovative siege at Vicksburg split the South in two, and his Overland Campaign, despite high casualties, pinned down Lee's forces, demonstrating dogged determination and adaptability.
3. Robert E. Lee
Lee ranks highly for tactical mastery and audacious offensives despite severe resource disadvantages. Victories like the Seven Days Battles, Second Bull Run, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville showcased brilliant maneuvers and morale inspiration. Strategically, he prolonged the war far beyond expectations for the South, though invasions (Antietam, Gettysburg) ultimately failed.
4. Dwight D. Eisenhower
As Supreme Allied Commander in World War II, Eisenhower's strategic genius shone in orchestrating the largest amphibious invasion in history at Normandy (D-Day) and managing coalition forces across Europe. Tactically, he oversaw operations like the breakout from Normandy and the Ardennes counteroffensive, balancing resources and egos to achieve total victory over Nazi Germany.
5. George S. Patton
Patton was a master of mobile warfare in World War II, leading the Third Army's rapid advances across Europe. Strategically, he contributed to the Allied push post-Normandy, relieving Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. Tactically, his aggressive armored tactics, emphasizing speed and surprise, outmaneuvered German forces, earning him respect even from enemies for his bold, high-tempo operations.
6. William T. Sherman
Sherman's "March to the Sea" exemplified total war strategy in the Civil War, crippling Confederate infrastructure and morale without major battles. Strategically, he captured Atlanta, boosting Northern support for Lincoln's reelection. Tactically, his maneuvers in the Atlanta Campaign outflanked and wore down opponents, showcasing innovative logistics and psychological warfare.
7. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson
Jackson's Valley Campaign distracted Union forces with lightning marches and surprise attacks, while tactical brilliance at Chancellorsville (flanking Hooker) was legendary. His early death limited broader impact, but he maximized limited resources.
8. Winfield Scott
Known for the "Anaconda Plan" that outlined the Union's Civil War strategy of blockade and division, Scott also led decisive victories in the Mexican-American War. Strategically, his plan shaped the war's course. Tactically, he captured Mexico City through amphibious assault at Veracruz and inland battles, demonstrating logistical prowess over vast distances.
9. James Longstreet
Lee's "Old War Horse" excelled defensively (Fredericksburg's sunken road) and offensively when trusted (Chickamauga breakthrough). Strategically, he advocated attrition over risky offensives, with strong tactical execution in key battles.
10. Nathanael Green
Greene's southern campaign in the Revolutionary War wore down British forces through attrition without major engagements. Strategically, he reclaimed the South by forcing Cornwallis into costly pursuits. Tactically, battles like Guilford Court House inflicted disproportionate casualties, setting the stage for Yorktown and demonstrating guerrilla-like flexibility.
Posted on 1/30/26 at 1:52 pm to RollTide1987
Solid list.
Schwartzkof warrants some consideration
Schwartzkof warrants some consideration
Posted on 1/30/26 at 1:53 pm to RollTide1987
col hackworth wasnt a go but his contribution to the army and generations that followed cant be underestimated
Posted on 1/30/26 at 1:54 pm to RollTide1987
quote:
4. Dwight D. Eisenhower
My favorite president.
Posted on 1/30/26 at 1:55 pm to RollTide1987
My main takeaway is our lack of great military leadership in the last 80 years
Posted on 1/30/26 at 1:57 pm to RollTide1987
Those are just War time generals...
Missing Matthew Ridgway. Without him we lose Korea...
Missing Matthew Ridgway. Without him we lose Korea...
This post was edited on 1/30/26 at 2:00 pm
Posted on 1/30/26 at 2:01 pm to udtiger
quote:
Schwartzkof warrants some consideration
I agree.
His operational plan for Desert Storm was genius, and its execution was immaculate.
Posted on 1/30/26 at 2:02 pm to Lonnie Utah
quote:
Missing Matthew Ridgway. Without him we lose Korea...
Do we?
I would argue MacArthur had far more tactical success in Korea than Ridgway.
Posted on 1/30/26 at 2:05 pm to OweO
Always felt Ike was underrated as SCAEF, how he commanded & held together the coalition with all the different agendas, egos, etc. was a borderline miracle.
"Apart from the weather, nothing gave me a greater headache than Charles de Gaulle.' Eisenhower
"Apart from the weather, nothing gave me a greater headache than Charles de Gaulle.' Eisenhower
Posted on 1/30/26 at 2:06 pm to RollTide1987
Nathan Bedford Forrest has to be 11. The man invented bedrocks of modern warfare like speed, surprise, decentralized command, and raids against enemy logistics rather than set battles. His use of mounted troops as mobile infantry and his focus on psychological and economic destruction were ahead of its time.
Posted on 1/30/26 at 2:06 pm to Hback
Nathan Bedford Forrest is the GOAT.
Posted on 1/30/26 at 2:07 pm to RollTide1987
I’d rank Hal Moore up there although he was a lieutenant general. I’m pretty sure scharwtzkof came up under moore
Posted on 1/30/26 at 2:11 pm to RollTide1987
quote:
His list
It’s not a person.
Posted on 1/30/26 at 2:12 pm to RollTide1987
quote:
I would argue MacArthur had far more tactical success in Korea than Ridgway.
MacArthur gets a lot of well deserved credit for the brilance of inchon. However, by the fall of 1950, he had overextended the Un troops, and they were spread too thin across northern Korea. When the Chinese intervened in late 1950, we were caught off guard. We were in real danger of being over run by the Chinese. and the front collapsed. MacArthur had one of the greatest strategic blunders of the 20th century when he mis-read Chinese intention and commitment. One of the things I still remember from my strategic policy classes at The Citadel is don't plan on what you THINK your enemy is going to do, plan base on what they are CAPABLE of doing. This is War planning 101 and MacArthur missed it completely
Ridgeway came in and stabilized the situation against a vastly superior (numerically) force.
So yes, I do think we lose Korea without Ridgeway.
This post was edited on 1/30/26 at 2:18 pm
Posted on 1/30/26 at 2:16 pm to Ostrich
quote:
My main takeaway is our lack of great military leadership in the last 80 years
TBF, the list had no peacetime leaders.
Posted on 1/30/26 at 2:19 pm to RollTide1987
MacArthur had far more tactical success in Korea than Ridgway.
---until he reached the Chosin
---until he reached the Chosin
Posted on 1/30/26 at 2:20 pm to Ostrich
quote:
My main takeaway is our lack of great military leadership in the last 80 years
Not true. Its just these Ai models aren't trained to talk about the great things peactime leadership does.They are naturally biased towards war time leaders. It's not really the fault of the guys (and girls) at the Pentagon that with a couple of exceptions that our country has enjoyed relative peace in the past 80 years...
Marshal, LeMay and Mattis all deserve honorable mention even tho they weren't really wartime generals...
This post was edited on 1/30/26 at 2:26 pm
Posted on 1/30/26 at 2:21 pm to RollTide1987
General Milley.
Just fricking with you...
Just fricking with you...
Posted on 1/30/26 at 2:22 pm to RollTide1987
If we include Brigadier Generals...Francis Marion would have to be up there as well. He wasn't a great dude...but was a great General.
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