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Better Confederate General: Jackson or Longstreet?

Posted on 12/24/14 at 10:02 pm
Posted by athenslife101
Member since Feb 2013
18634 posts
Posted on 12/24/14 at 10:02 pm
I am on a bit of a Civil War tangent and am reading some of my old books and stuff (reading Soldiers:Blue and Grey which I can't recommend enough FWIW) and I've been surprised about a lot more criticism of Jackson that I remember. I googled it and it surprising came back with more liking Longstreet as a better general.

In my last Civil War phase, I remember reading unanimous praise of Jackson and his death was the end all be all.

But recently, I've been reading about some of the old battles and they've been pretty critical of him, especially in the 7 Pines Battle and the first Bull Run.

Meanwhile, reading about Longstreet, it seems that he had a pretty good idea of what was happening and seemed to suffer a lot of being a victim of circumstance.

Obviously Longstreet lived throughout the war to become a bitter, defensive old man and Jackson died lionized. But in reality, who was a better overall general.

I don't know enough to be able to say.
Posted by KosmoCramer
Member since Dec 2007
76657 posts
Posted on 12/24/14 at 10:03 pm to
J.E.B Stuart
Posted by athenslife101
Member since Feb 2013
18634 posts
Posted on 12/24/14 at 10:04 pm to
Not an option.
Posted by Kafka
I am the moral conscience of TD
Member since Jul 2007
143187 posts
Posted on 12/24/14 at 10:05 pm to
I can't breathe
Posted by Cosmo
glassman's guest house
Member since Oct 2003
120799 posts
Posted on 12/24/14 at 10:06 pm to
Lee is a top 5 US general ever.
Posted by mattz1122
Member since Oct 2007
52989 posts
Posted on 12/24/14 at 10:06 pm to
Joshua Chamberlain over all Southern Gens.
Posted by DropaDeuce
Houston
Member since Jul 2006
1553 posts
Posted on 12/24/14 at 10:08 pm to
Jackson also got in a bind at Antietam. Its been a while since i read up on any of that though.
Did you know his arm has its own grave site?
Posted by athenslife101
Member since Feb 2013
18634 posts
Posted on 12/24/14 at 10:08 pm to
In mustaches, definitely.
Posted by KosmoCramer
Member since Dec 2007
76657 posts
Posted on 12/24/14 at 10:14 pm to
The real answer is that it depends on the situation.

Jackson was tough as nails, could drive his men hard and push offensively but this put him out there so to speak.

Longstreet was more consistent and was a more defensive minded general.

Where Jackson could almost be left to his own devices and produce success, Longstreet was more one to carry out orders to a T.

They are just different men that succeeded at different strategies.
Posted by athenslife101
Member since Feb 2013
18634 posts
Posted on 12/24/14 at 10:21 pm to
Yeah, that's one thing that stood out. Jackson kept on showing up late to engagements that kept the confederacy from delivering a destructive blow to the army of the potamic.

Also, Longstreet forsaw a number of things and protested them before they happened that saw the confederacy defeated.
Posted by McVick
Member since Jan 2011
4480 posts
Posted on 12/24/14 at 10:34 pm to
No Sherman, No Care
Posted by LSUTigersVCURams
Member since Jul 2014
21940 posts
Posted on 12/24/14 at 10:42 pm to
quote:

J.E.B Stuart
Posted by Minnesota Tiger
Member since Oct 2005
4414 posts
Posted on 12/24/14 at 10:51 pm to
Lee was not a U.S. general in the war.
Posted by Champagne
Already Conquered USA.
Member since Oct 2007
48716 posts
Posted on 12/24/14 at 10:59 pm to
Jackson did indeed mishandle some battles in his career. I can't recall whether Longstreet did also.

Longstreet may have the edge for corps or army command. I really wonder whether Jackson could have commanded an army.

Jackson tended to lead from the front because he emphasized quick and decisive action. Longstreet followed tradition and commanded from the rear.

So, maybe Jackson was a better brigade or division commander whereas Longstreet would have the edge for corps level and higher command.
Posted by arcalades
USA
Member since Feb 2014
19276 posts
Posted on 12/24/14 at 11:01 pm to
If Jackson hadn't been such a fool and careless, the South almost certainly would have won. He made Lee look great. Lee's entire legacy was made by Jackson. The North couldn't match Jackson's tactical moves at all. Jackson would have destroyed Washington DC before the North could have turned things around. Jackson's death was by far the most pivotal event of the Civil War, yet very few know anything about it. Jackson is by far the greatest tactical leader in US history. On the other hand, he didn't have much common sense in vital areas, which ultimately led to his death.
Posted by prplhze2000
Parts Unknown
Member since Jan 2007
51645 posts
Posted on 12/24/14 at 11:04 pm to
Kind of like Belicheck and Parcells?
Posted by el Gaucho
He/They
Member since Dec 2010
53561 posts
Posted on 12/24/14 at 11:05 pm to
quote:

Joshua Chamberlain over all Southern Gens.


but he was one of the bad guys
Posted by StrongSafety
Member since Sep 2004
17547 posts
Posted on 12/24/14 at 11:06 pm to
On the eve of Christmas, we have a thread about a bunch of terrorist that tried to destroy our great Union ?


Posted by stout
Smoking Crack with Hunter Biden
Member since Sep 2006
167929 posts
Posted on 12/24/14 at 11:07 pm to
quote:

StrongSafety



Like a moth to a flame
Posted by LongueCarabine
Pointe Aux Pins, LA
Member since Jan 2011
8205 posts
Posted on 12/24/14 at 11:17 pm to
quote:

Like a moth to a flame


Or a welfare rat to an EB card.

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