Thread by @bonesoflasalle

The leaders of the three major Confederate armies and senior naval officers.

The senior most field generals of the Confederacy. In order of seniority:
2. A.S. Johnston
3. Lee
4. J.E. Johnston
5. Beauregard

Gen. Robert E. Lee of Virginia led the Army of N.Virginia 62-65. The most brilliant soldier the New World has produced. His victories at 2nd Manassas & Chancellorsville being particularly outstanding, he wasn’t *always* right but almost always and certainly never met his match.

Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston of Texas, probably the most esteemed soldier in the army before the war, he had to struggle due to errors before his arrival & was KIA at Shiloh before really proving himself. Many believe he would’ve been the equivalent of Lee in the west had he lived

Gen.P.G.T.Beauregard of Louisiana secured Ft Sumter, won at 1st Manassas but was disliked by Davis who removed him after he succeeded A.S.Johnston. Defended Charleston successfully and saved Richmond at Bermuda Hundred. Underrated in my view, he should’ve been given an army.

Gen.Braxton Bragg of North Carolina, irascible & bad tempered, he succeeded Bory to lead the Army of Tennessee 62-63. Not a bad strategist but not the best field commander. He fought to a stalemate at Stones River & won a stupendous victory at Chickamauga but flames out afterward

Gen.Joseph E. Johnston of Virginia was a very competent but conservative commander who had no disastrous defeats but no decisive victories either. His opponent Sherman came to highly respected him but his retrograde tactical maneuvers angered President Davis. A very cautious man.

Gen.John Bell Hood of Texas, legendary for his ferocious attacks as a Brigade & division commander under Lee, also known for being horribly wounded repeatedly, he replaced Johnston and did what was expected with a massive offensive. It ended badly but I can’t fault the man for it

Maj.Gen. Earl Van Dorn of Mississippi led the Army of the West to a hard luck defeat at Elkhorn Tavern, Arkansas then went East, taking the army with him. A flamboyant ladies man, he was an Indian fighter not suited to command an army but adept as a cavalry commander.

Maj.Gen. Thomas C. Hindman of Arkansas worked miracles rebuilding the frontier army from scratch & keeping the enemy at bay with bluff & cavalry raids. Can’t praise him enough for that but success in the field eluded him though the battle of Prairie Grove Arkansas was very close.

Lt.Gen. Theophilus H. Holmes of N.Carolina absent minded & hard of hearing, I’ve a soft spot for “Granny Holmes”. Not the best certainly, he was the victim of slander & was in an impossible position. Still, his defeat at Helena, Arkansas proved his detractors weren’t *all* wrong.

Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith of Florida, famed for his victory at Richmond Kentucky in 62, he led the frontier army 63-65 and was the last Confederate army commander to surrender. I want to be harder on him but the pesky facts always prevent me. He did well with what he had really.