Quote:
Originally Posted by Brett
Hi Airchallenged:
I wonder if you have an opinion on the strategy the 2 sides used.
Do you think there was a better strategy for them?
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Brett,
I think the generals fell in to multiple categories. There were those that fell in to the defensively offensive category, like Lee and Meade. Those that were aggressively offensive Like Grant and sometimes Sherman. Those that were more logical, like Jackson at the aggressive side and and Longstreet at the more reserved. And then there were those that were just stupid or incapable in certain aspects, like Burnside, Little Mac, Hooker.
When I say Defensively Offensive I mean that they would go on the offensive often but when they could they would draw the opponent onto there own fighting grounds. They would pick the better ground, like at Ball's Bluff and Fredericksburg, and draw the opponent towards them. In my mind Meade did the same sort of thing at Gettysburg. Although he was on the defensive really he used the same sort of principles. FInd a good defensive ground and then hold it. he didn't try to attack the rebels but instead let them come to him.
Personally I am a logical person and lean towards the Lee-Jackson-Longstreet trio. Somehow I think they kept each other in check. Lee was an engineer by military profession and seemed to think like an engineer through out the war. find the best defensive position and either try to out maneuver the enemy or inflict heavy losses before having to fall back. Jackson was an Artillerist and seemed to always work that into his plans if able to. Although he was prone to make elaborate plans, he made something like 5 before Lee approved the idea of Chancellorsville, he always knew how to push the right buttons in the union army to scare them or hold them off where needed. Longstreet on the other hand was the only infantry man of the trio, ironically his closest friend at West Point was Grant. On a side note Julia Dent Grant was Pete's fourth cousin and he introduced the two of them at a party. Pete was Grant's best man. Back to the question
He seemed to keep the other two in check and prevent them from getting any really insane plans into action. Although he was aggressive at first he became more reserved after three of his four children died in one week from a Scarlet Fever Epidemic. Something about the three of them together seems to work logically for me.