A couple of months ago, I created a thread titled "Ranking the Union Corps Commanders"in which discussions were held concerning how capable the Union corps commanders in both the Eastern and Western Theater were, and how they stacked up to each in rating. I have now desired to do the same for the Confederate corps commanders. The same rules from the Union thread still apply. Also, I am aware that generally that there are more passionate feelings concerning CSA generals than Union ones, and due to historiography, the rankings of some figures are never going to please everyone (specifically Longstreet). Also, I know that almost everyone here is a mature person and knows not to do this, but please do not make this into a thread that either deifies the Confederacy or turn this into a Confederate bashing thread. This thread's purpose is to rank the men solely on the basis of their military skill, not their personal life. With that said, lets move on to the list.
Distinguished:
1. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson: In a very close race, I ultimately decided to give Jackson the top spot. If consideration was only given to times when Jackson under direct supervision from a superior, he would have been in the capable category. It was his times commanding on his own without direct superior overseeing the action that earned him this top spot, and these where the kind of operations in which he shined. At Second Bull Run, he was able to hold the line under immense pressure, and despite the loss of two of his three division commanders, and many brigade commanders. Then at Harper's Ferry, he forced the surrender of 12,000 Union troops and still arrived in time to participate in Antietam. Finally, there is his finest hour at his final battle: Chancellorsville. He was willing to take on a task many generals on both sides would have refused, and successfully pulled it off with brilliant effect. Ultimately, he would prove to be the most crucial man in Lee's greatest victory of the war. His untimely death certainly played a role in the outcome of the Civil War. His main drawback, however, was his inability to get along with many of his subordinates. Despite this, however, he always managed to deliver at least passable performances.
2. James Longstreet: Perhaps Lee's greatest subordinate if only times under direct supervision are considered, Longstreet delivered several masterful performances during the war. He became most famous for the devastating, hammering flank attacks he could deliver, as shown off at Second Bull Run, Gettysburg, and the Wilderness. His loss at that third battle might have been Lee's worse loss of the war. Even if it wasn't, it deprived him of his most capable and experienced subordinate in a time when he desperately needed him. Similar to Jackson, he would sometimes face problems dealing with others, such as Jubal Early, A.P. Hill, Evander Law, or Lafayette McLaws later on in the war, but again similar to Jackson, these feuds would never lead to a terrible outcome as petty feuds between miltary men often do. Overall, he well deserves his nickname as Lee's Old Warhorse.
Capable:
3. Richard S. Ewell: This might be a controversial placing, but I think Ewell deserves to be placed in the capable category. In his first real test as a corps commander, the Second Battle of Winchester, he managed to win a victory worthy of Jackson. It was at Gettysburg that he managed to permanently scar his image in the public eye. This was due to him not attacking the Union's defenses on the hills at the end of the first day. It should be noted that Lee's orders were left much up to Ewell's discretion, and that his men were tired from hard marching and fighting, as well as the fact that the Union had already begun to fortify. In only remembering this, it is forgotten that it was men under his command that initially broke the Union line, and that they would again do well in the second and third day of battle. At the Wilderness, once again, men under Ewell's command would deliver a brilliant flanking assault. Ultimately, his worst moment and his ultimate undoing would be Spotsylvania, where Union forces were able to break through his portion of the defensive perimeter and had the potential to destroy the Confederate Army. The circumstances leading to this were not all his fault, such as Lee moving his artillery to other positions. Ultimately, however, this near catastrophe would cost Ewell his command, and he would be sent off to the defenses of Richmond.
4. Jubal A. Early: While it might ruffle some feathers that Early is below Ewell, my reasoning behind this is that while Ewell has a great triumph to his name, Second Winchester, Early has no such accolade, although he did manage to win some victories. Coming to corps command following Ewell's reassignment, Early's tenure was defined by one goal: Make sure that the Shenandoah Valley stayed in CSA hands, and to distract as many men from the Siege of Petersburg as possible. At first, Early succeeded at both of these goals: he drove out David Hunter and drew the VI Corps to Washington. After his repulse at the Battle of Fort Stevens, however, things began to go downhill. This was not his fault for the most part, however, as he was outnumbered and faced an aggressive opponent in Phil Sheridan. It is hardly surprising then that he would be battered out of the Shenandoah Valley, although he nearly managed to gain what could have been a decisive victory at Cedar Creek. Ultimately, his failure would lead to a massive public campaign to remove him from command, which Lee ultimately agreed to do.
Competent:
5: Ambrose P. Hill: Although part of me wants to place Hill in the capable category due to his performance in the Overland and Petersburg Campaigns, I can not overlook how he performed as corps commander in the campaigns prior to those. As a starter, it is important to note that often times, Hill was sick, which hampered his ability to command, and sometimes completely incapacitated him, such as at Spotsylvania where Early had to take command of his corps. In the Gettysburg Campaign, he managed to get his corps engaged in a slogging match with the I Corps that he quite possibly could have lost had Ewell and his men not routed the Union men to the north. The rest of his performance at Gettysburg is hardly worthy of note as he was stricken with illness. Then came Bristoe Station, where his corps faced a bloody repulse from an inexperienced corps commander, Gouverneur Warren. It was during the Overland and Petersburg Campaigns that he began to perform better, perhaps because of the less strenuous nature of defensive warfare. He was able to hold his line well at the Wilderness and Petersburg, and repulse all assaults despite weakening numbers, although his piecemeal attacks at the North Anna cost Lee his final, best chance to strike a critical blow to Grant. Ultimately, he would be killed in what some consider a purposeful charge against Union soldiers in a suicide attempt.
6: Richard H. Anderson: Ascending to corps command due to Longstreet's injury at the Wilderness, Anderson had a reputation as a solid, but undistinguished, officer. Ultimately, he would be the choice of Lee to take over Longstreet's corps temporarily, chosen over Early and Edward Johnson. His time as commander of the I Corps continued with his reputation. Ultimately, when Longstreet healed and was able to return to command, Anderson was displaced. Lee would then make the IV Corps to give him a command, which essentially were former garrison troops. Due to the high rates of desertion for the CSA Army experienced towards the end of the war, as well as the lack of experience of his men and the overwhelming determination of the Union troops to finally put the war to an end, one can hardly blame Anderson for the destruction of his corps at Sayler's Creek. Ultimately, Anderson was simply a competent general who could be counted on to deliver a solid, if not brilliant, performance as a corps commander.
Distinguished:
1. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson: In a very close race, I ultimately decided to give Jackson the top spot. If consideration was only given to times when Jackson under direct supervision from a superior, he would have been in the capable category. It was his times commanding on his own without direct superior overseeing the action that earned him this top spot, and these where the kind of operations in which he shined. At Second Bull Run, he was able to hold the line under immense pressure, and despite the loss of two of his three division commanders, and many brigade commanders. Then at Harper's Ferry, he forced the surrender of 12,000 Union troops and still arrived in time to participate in Antietam. Finally, there is his finest hour at his final battle: Chancellorsville. He was willing to take on a task many generals on both sides would have refused, and successfully pulled it off with brilliant effect. Ultimately, he would prove to be the most crucial man in Lee's greatest victory of the war. His untimely death certainly played a role in the outcome of the Civil War. His main drawback, however, was his inability to get along with many of his subordinates. Despite this, however, he always managed to deliver at least passable performances.
2. James Longstreet: Perhaps Lee's greatest subordinate if only times under direct supervision are considered, Longstreet delivered several masterful performances during the war. He became most famous for the devastating, hammering flank attacks he could deliver, as shown off at Second Bull Run, Gettysburg, and the Wilderness. His loss at that third battle might have been Lee's worse loss of the war. Even if it wasn't, it deprived him of his most capable and experienced subordinate in a time when he desperately needed him. Similar to Jackson, he would sometimes face problems dealing with others, such as Jubal Early, A.P. Hill, Evander Law, or Lafayette McLaws later on in the war, but again similar to Jackson, these feuds would never lead to a terrible outcome as petty feuds between miltary men often do. Overall, he well deserves his nickname as Lee's Old Warhorse.
Capable:
3. Richard S. Ewell: This might be a controversial placing, but I think Ewell deserves to be placed in the capable category. In his first real test as a corps commander, the Second Battle of Winchester, he managed to win a victory worthy of Jackson. It was at Gettysburg that he managed to permanently scar his image in the public eye. This was due to him not attacking the Union's defenses on the hills at the end of the first day. It should be noted that Lee's orders were left much up to Ewell's discretion, and that his men were tired from hard marching and fighting, as well as the fact that the Union had already begun to fortify. In only remembering this, it is forgotten that it was men under his command that initially broke the Union line, and that they would again do well in the second and third day of battle. At the Wilderness, once again, men under Ewell's command would deliver a brilliant flanking assault. Ultimately, his worst moment and his ultimate undoing would be Spotsylvania, where Union forces were able to break through his portion of the defensive perimeter and had the potential to destroy the Confederate Army. The circumstances leading to this were not all his fault, such as Lee moving his artillery to other positions. Ultimately, however, this near catastrophe would cost Ewell his command, and he would be sent off to the defenses of Richmond.
4. Jubal A. Early: While it might ruffle some feathers that Early is below Ewell, my reasoning behind this is that while Ewell has a great triumph to his name, Second Winchester, Early has no such accolade, although he did manage to win some victories. Coming to corps command following Ewell's reassignment, Early's tenure was defined by one goal: Make sure that the Shenandoah Valley stayed in CSA hands, and to distract as many men from the Siege of Petersburg as possible. At first, Early succeeded at both of these goals: he drove out David Hunter and drew the VI Corps to Washington. After his repulse at the Battle of Fort Stevens, however, things began to go downhill. This was not his fault for the most part, however, as he was outnumbered and faced an aggressive opponent in Phil Sheridan. It is hardly surprising then that he would be battered out of the Shenandoah Valley, although he nearly managed to gain what could have been a decisive victory at Cedar Creek. Ultimately, his failure would lead to a massive public campaign to remove him from command, which Lee ultimately agreed to do.
Competent:
5: Ambrose P. Hill: Although part of me wants to place Hill in the capable category due to his performance in the Overland and Petersburg Campaigns, I can not overlook how he performed as corps commander in the campaigns prior to those. As a starter, it is important to note that often times, Hill was sick, which hampered his ability to command, and sometimes completely incapacitated him, such as at Spotsylvania where Early had to take command of his corps. In the Gettysburg Campaign, he managed to get his corps engaged in a slogging match with the I Corps that he quite possibly could have lost had Ewell and his men not routed the Union men to the north. The rest of his performance at Gettysburg is hardly worthy of note as he was stricken with illness. Then came Bristoe Station, where his corps faced a bloody repulse from an inexperienced corps commander, Gouverneur Warren. It was during the Overland and Petersburg Campaigns that he began to perform better, perhaps because of the less strenuous nature of defensive warfare. He was able to hold his line well at the Wilderness and Petersburg, and repulse all assaults despite weakening numbers, although his piecemeal attacks at the North Anna cost Lee his final, best chance to strike a critical blow to Grant. Ultimately, he would be killed in what some consider a purposeful charge against Union soldiers in a suicide attempt.
6: Richard H. Anderson: Ascending to corps command due to Longstreet's injury at the Wilderness, Anderson had a reputation as a solid, but undistinguished, officer. Ultimately, he would be the choice of Lee to take over Longstreet's corps temporarily, chosen over Early and Edward Johnson. His time as commander of the I Corps continued with his reputation. Ultimately, when Longstreet healed and was able to return to command, Anderson was displaced. Lee would then make the IV Corps to give him a command, which essentially were former garrison troops. Due to the high rates of desertion for the CSA Army experienced towards the end of the war, as well as the lack of experience of his men and the overwhelming determination of the Union troops to finally put the war to an end, one can hardly blame Anderson for the destruction of his corps at Sayler's Creek. Ultimately, Anderson was simply a competent general who could be counted on to deliver a solid, if not brilliant, performance as a corps commander.
