re: Where does Robert E Lee rank as a military tactician

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Grant made his name in maneuver warfare, but when he transferred to the East, he found it impossible. Lee had an ability to see Grants next move, and get his army there first.

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Grant caught Lee napping more than once during the Overland Campaign. His limited ability to maneuver had more to do with the size of his army as well as the geography of Virginia. Out west, the rivers by and large flowed north-south while in Virginia they flowed east-west. An invading army from the north has to cross east-west flowing rivers, which made Lee's job easier in Virginia.