A silver tongue he has!
Posted on 11/14/2004 5:23:06 PM PST by Cyropaedia
The Grey Ghost.........:o)
Isn't that Jenjis Khan?
It has been said (I think correctly) that Lee was the last of the great old-fashioned Generals, and Grant was the first of the great modern ones. They were fighting two different wars - Lee, the chivalrous, tactical duel of soldiers; Grant, the modern "total war."
A silver tongue he has!
I hate to say it in the presence of *certain* Freepers, but in many ways Boudicca made Xena the Warrior Princess look like Tricia Nixon.
An unfortunate case of fratricide caused by confusion of the battle lines and low light conditions.
Genghis Khan, Alexander the Great and King David of the Jews.
I really think greatest general of all time is between Alexander, Jenghis Khan, and Hannibal. Only reason so much Civil War stuff is being discussed is because we're closer to it and know a lot more about it.
Probably the greatest pre-gunpowder army of all time was the Mongols. I'm fairly certain 30,000 Mongols would defeat 30,000 Macedonians under Alexander or 30,000 under Hannibal, or 30,000 Romans under Caesar, etc.
Franks, while I respect him tremendously, fought two pi$$-ant enemies with overwhelming forceA guy I know took part in the initial invasion and liberation of Iraq and had some choice words on Franks.
True, the enemy was not on a par with the US as a whole - however Franks still saw how to take down 1 country with under 200 (I think) of our own troops on the ground, and how to really use our capabilities in a revolutionary way to take down a second country at incredible numerical disadvantage, yet with miniscule casualties. Although there was a continuous flow of troops into the Iraqi battlefield, the main thrust to Baghdad was accomplished with a relatively few thousands of troops, all the while revising plans on the fly to answer enemy tactics.
I would bet that he will be seen as one of the best CINCs we have ever produced.
Agree with Zukov. Add Saladin.
Since my grandfather (and namesake) was sherriff of Neshoba County, Mississippi, back in the depression, and my Father was raised in Philladelphia, Mississippi, and I now live in Memphis, Tennessee (not far south of Fort Pillow), I will reserve for myself the right to judge NB Forrest's aims and attitides towards the question of race.
There are racists and there are racists. Forrest was an ugly racist of the first order. He was also a brilliant millitary tactician. The two are not mutually exclusive.
My grandfather's tenure in office as Sherriff was limited to one term because he didn't hold with the Klan or their attitude. On top of that he was a soft touch and times were hard. He's the only Sherriff in Mississippi history to come out of office poorer than he went in. He is said to be one of several men who were used to build the character of Atticus Finch, though there are probably a thousand people who make that claim about their ancestors. Kinda like Al Gore and Love Story.
I never knew my grandfather as he died before I was born, but he did teach my father well about the attitudes bad men held within his own community, as well as how to avoid that minority of the population. I learned about vicious racism growing up in Scarsdale, New York and going to school in Boston (I lived in Southie during the bussing riots).
Racism is not a southern failing. It is not a White failing. It is a human failing.
But Nathan Bedford Forrest was a racist.
Thank you.
Both Lee and Grant served under Winfield Scott who used an early form of overwhelming force in the Mexican War. Lee tried to use a similar tactic in the two northern invasions and failed, partly due to inadequate supply lines. Grant was able to use overwhelming force because he had the resources and he knew the south didn't. I've always felt that the generous terms Grant gave Lee at Appomattox was a gesture of respect, Grant knew that it wouldn't have been a fair battle and he also knew that in a "fair" fight the "safe money" would have been on Lee.
Well, How about Washington losing nearly every single battle against a military with supply routes based thousands of miles away. His best strength was (oddly enough) the french and his endurance.
Southerners will hate me for this but "Uncle Billy" Sherman has to be on the list.
Many of the Generals on the Great List were Great partially because of the ineptness of their opponents or sheer over whelming force. The Generals of the Civil War largely fought battles with equal opponents.
William Wallace was a great leader.
Adolph Rupp! Guess where i am from?
You are absolutely right, I meant Gregory Zhukov. I confuse myself with Guderian. Man, that would be an incredible war movie if they would do it. Think about it: 3500 tanks squaring off sometimes feet from each other at the battle of Kursk. The greatest mechanized conflict in history. Someone should do this .
Has anyone mentioned Lewis B. (Chesty) Puller?
I would say he and George Patton and Curtis LeMay.
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