[Kenny Bunk]

Longstreet gets a "bum rap" he seems to have been right: Lee should have early on gone around the left flank of the Union army.(Lee's right flank.

Longstreet was right one hell of a lot more than he was wrong. Unfortunately, he always seemed less than enthusiastic in carrying out orders he did not agree with.

IMNVHO, Best general in the Civil War on either side: General George B. Thomas, victim of a PR cabal by Grant, Sherman, Schofield, and their pals in DC, all of whom admitted it long after the war.

He was an all-around guy, a master of logistics, engineering, training, cavalry, artillery, and maneuver on defense and attack. Careful and methodical, he took very good care of his troops and tried to minimize casualties.

Genius, especially when compared to Grant.

[Sherman Logan]

Thomas was a very good good general, but it is generally agreed he often moved too slow.

Part of being methodical, I guess, but knowing when to throw the methodical part overboard and go for it is a big part of generalship.

[Theoria]

Best General is a thread all to itself. There are lots a guys who don't get the credit they deserve.

Cleburne, Joe Johnston.

They all had various strengths and weaknesses.

[Moonman62]

IMNVHO, Best general in the Civil War on either side: General George B. Thomas, victim of a PR cabal by Grant, Sherman, Schofield, and their pals in DC, all of whom admitted it long after the war.

I think you mean George Henry Thomas (he really gets no respect).

In 1877, Sherman published an article praising Grant and Thomas, and contrasting them to Robert E. Lee. After noting that Thomas, unlike his fellow Virginian Lee, stood by the Union, Sherman wrote:

During the whole war his services were transcendent, winning the first substantial victory at Mill Springs in Kentucky, January 20th, 1862, participating in all the campaigns of the West in 1862-3-4, and finally, December 16th, 1864 annihilating the army of Hood, which in mid winter had advanced to Nashville to besiege him.

His horse, Billy, was named after Sherman.

[donmeaker]

I put Thomas as number 3, for the reasons you note.

I put Grant at 1, Sherman at 2. I can’t imagine Thomas conducting the Vicksburg campaign or the March to the Sea. Like Halleck, Thomas was too smart and careful for either of those operations.

One reason why Thomas was careful was because as a Virginia, his loyalty would have been suspect in the press. Even with that disadvantage, he got great results, destroying Hood’s army as Sherman did not. To be fair, Hood cooperated in the destruction of his army.