Posted on 01/30/2013 4:26:31 PM PST by Kaslin
Oh, please.
Davis’ inability to get along with people was famous. “Proud as Lucifer” was one of the milder remarks. The hard feelings between Davis and Johnston began during Davis’ term as secretary of war and led to Davis’ great misjudgment in relieving Johnston before Atlanta and installing Hood. Davis would have been an excellent general, but he was not the man for the job, yet he got it because since 1850 he had been the defacto heir of Calhoun, and was by no means as moderate as he made himself out to be.
Prob. correct there.
There’s always been one thing I’ve (still) never understood about the CW...
We fought the British using guerrilla tactics, but the CW in the old British style (line vs. line)...I mean, who thought that was a smart idea?
Davis was a real smart guy, but the desire to micromanage was one of his great foibles.
Davis was a real smart guy, but the desire to micromanage was one of his great foibles.
Mass fire power with rifle and/or cannon, and cavalry was still a factor. Our generals were taught Napoleonic tactics. We had no proper nco cadre, no proper junior officer corps. which is one reason we had so field grade and general officers who were casualties. Joe Johnston has a reputation of being cautious, but he had been wounded several times in the Mexican War, and at the Battle of Seven Pines, was wounded while pressing an offensive against McClellan.
I think that if given a choice, he would have preferred a field command. It took a Lee to manage him. Prickly types like Johnston were too much like him.
Yes, it’s prime purpose was to empower a government and the men devising it were acting in accord with certain principles. But unlike the French Constitutions, it was not based on an ideology.
“I think that if given a choice, he would have preferred a field command.”
I think you are right. He was a very reluctant president of the Confederacy.
“I think that if given a choice, he would have preferred a field command.”
I think you are right. He was a very reluctant president of the Confederacy.
Thanks for that tidbit. I’ve always enjoyed the history of the ‘CW’, I’ve just never gotten the time to delve into the tactics of the same.
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