Either Thomas or Farragut Goes South: Which Is Worse for the Union?

Which Scenario is Worse for the Union

  • Thomas joining the Confederacy

    Votes: 14 93.3%
  • Farragut joining the Confederacy

    Votes: 1 6.7%

  • Total voters
    15

Anaxagoras

Banned
During the American Civil War, the two most prominent and important Southerners who remained loyal to the Union were General George Thomas and Admiral David Farragut. Farragut, at least, seems to have considered joining the Confederacy (lots of his colleagues apparently expected him to do so), while it's not clear whether or not Thomas seriously considered going South, as he burned most of his personal papers before his death and we can't be certain one way or the other.

Which scenario would be worse for the Union: Thomas joining the Confederacy or Farragut joining the Confederacy?
 
Without a navy I doubt that Farragut's going to help the Confederates that much. That said it would be interesting who would replace him, and whether or not they would be as aggressive with the Union Navy.
 

Japhy

Banned
Farragut's useless to the CSA -- an aggressive Naval commander without any ships.

So, Thomas, I guess.

Pretty much this. The most brilliant Confederate Naval officer still winds up with nothing more than a solitary Ironclad, Raider, or Coastal Fort.

Thomas on the other hand was recognized at the time as one of the four great Generals the Union had in the War. (Along with Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan. Take that as you will.) His absence would to an observer be clearly felt.
 

Flubber

Banned
Thomas definitely. The slavers didn't have enough of a navy for Farragut to make a difference and there were plenty of aggressive naval officers like Foote, Porter, and Du Pont to take Farragut's place.
 
Anaxagoras;8257725 Farragut said:
Really? What a misjudgement.

"We must fight this thing out until there is no more than one man left, and that man must be a Union man. Here's to his health!"

Admiral Farragut to General Banks - January 1863
 
George Thomas, due to the presence of troops in the Confederacy for him to command. An effective fleet commander is useless if you haven't got a fleet to let him command.

That said, I have seen no evidence that George Thomas seriously considered defecting. He remained loyal, despite knowing it would cost him his family, which it ultimately did.
 
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