| John the OFM | 25 Mar 2011 7:41 a.m. PST |
First of all, he must have a large body of work. Second, he must have won as many battles as he lost. Third, he was not critical to the war, or wars, in which he participated being either won or lost. He was helpful, but not necessary. Mediocre, but not disastrous.
Someone else could have done just as good a job. Or, just as bad. Independent command is helpful, but not neccessary. Neither disastrous, nor successful. His campaign(s) just kind of wandered about, petering out mindlessly. For the American Revoilution, I nominate Sullivan.
For the ACW, Banks. |
| John the OFM | 25 Mar 2011 7:57 a.m. PST |
"Political" generals are a good place to start, as are the aristocracy. |
| Tom Bryant | 25 Mar 2011 8:01 a.m. PST |
WWII US: Courtney Hodges British: Harold Alexander |
| Martin Rapier | 25 Mar 2011 8:10 a.m. PST |
Pick pretty well any divisional commander from WW2 who wasn't sacked or promoted precipitously, and you have your man! |
| Korvessa | 25 Mar 2011 8:22 a.m. PST |
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 Virtualscratchbuilder   | 25 Mar 2011 8:31 a.m. PST |
Statistically, would not most of the generals be average most of the time? How can you discriminate between the nondescript and the un-notorious? |
| ancientsgamer | 25 Mar 2011 8:33 a.m. PST |
Sorry, anyone that can wrangle Patton isn't mediocre ;-) |
| darthfozzywig | 25 Mar 2011 9:03 a.m. PST |
General Standard. He was a nondescript fellow, overshadowed by his academy peers Major Excitement and General Nuisance. |
| recon35 | 25 Mar 2011 9:15 a.m. PST |
Tom beat me to it. Hodges for the US. |
| Crow Bait | 25 Mar 2011 9:25 a.m. PST |
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| Regards | 25 Mar 2011 9:36 a.m. PST |
General Frank Cheatham, CSA, in the US Civil War. French General Betrand during the Napoleonic Wars. Maybe I've forgotten, but I don't recall him being anything more than "OK". Erik |
 20thmaine | 25 Mar 2011 9:38 a.m. PST |
Patton Eisenhower Washington Bobby Lee Sherman Grant Custer Dougal Brian Dylan Ermintrude Zebedee Florence |
| Pierce Inverarity | 25 Mar 2011 10:02 a.m. PST |
Just what makes Eisenhower average under John's or any sane person's description? |
| Who asked this joker | 25 Mar 2011 12:12 p.m. PST |
Me. I win about half the games I play! |
| ancientsgamer | 25 Mar 2011 12:34 p.m. PST |
20thMaine, you have been imbibing substances sir. |
| Patrick Sexton | 25 Mar 2011 12:58 p.m. PST |
I think 20thmaine is just trying to rile us up. |
| Grand Duke Natokina | 25 Mar 2011 1:12 p.m. PST |
From ACW, perhaps George Meade. Took over the Army of the Potomac about 4 days before Gettysburg and held the command thru the end of the war, but was always overshadowed by Grant who maintained his HQ with the Army of the Potomac.
Weaselhoffen. |
| 20thmaine | 25 Mar 2011 3:04 p.m. PST |
No, no ! I maintain that in the Bluecatian Conflict Florence was a very average general…. Imbibing substances ? Only caffeine based ones (unfortunately !). |
| Connard Sage | 25 Mar 2011 3:23 p.m. PST |
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| Flat Beer and Cold Pizza | 25 Mar 2011 3:44 p.m. PST |
Horatio Gates. He did "win" at Saratoga… sort of. |
 KimRYoung | 25 Mar 2011 5:11 p.m. PST |
How about William Rosecrans? Bernadotte? Crassus? |
| John the OFM | 25 Mar 2011 6:12 p.m. PST |
Gates! How could "I forget him?  Cornwalis is a good choice too. |
| SECURITY MINISTER CRITTER | 25 Mar 2011 7:39 p.m. PST |
I've always felt General Motors was pretty average… "Hisssss" "thunk" "plop" Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Sorry guys he was dodging and weaving!
Critterette.
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| Muah ha ha | 25 Mar 2011 9:50 p.m. PST |
Harold? He won one and lost one. |
| Mapleleaf | 25 Mar 2011 9:54 p.m. PST |
Any soldier that gets to General rank and is able to maintain his position win victories and leave as a general is not average. They would have needed some ability to get and stay there. The countless generals who were dismissed from their posts were the average ones – good enough to get there but not stay there. The poor generals would have been
all those poor guys who got to a general rank but were never given a post. |
| Mapleleaf | 25 Mar 2011 9:55 p.m. PST |
Re Cornwallis – lost because the British navy screwed up. If he was so bad why was he later given the most prestigious position in the Empire as Viceroy of India where he won some campaigns? |
| Tom Bryant | 25 Mar 2011 10:52 p.m. PST |
I've always felt General Motors was pretty average…"Hisssss" "thunk" "plop" Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Sorry guys he was dodging and weaving!
Critterette.
Not if you had to drive any of their products. They are somewhat "below average" in many respects. Back on topic how about Admiral Allen J. Kirk, or Harold R. Stark for the US? |
| Muah ha ha | 26 Mar 2011 2:33 a.m. PST |
I've always felt General Motors was pretty average… As opposed to what? Found On Road Dead? Fix Or Repair Daily? |
| 20thmaine | 26 Mar 2011 8:14 a.m. PST |
And they ask for evidence – well, who can forget the pathetic attempt to justify her actions to Congress link |
| JJartist | 26 Mar 2011 2:02 p.m. PST |
As a general John C. Frémont??? He certainly isn't boring but even wikipedia can't resist: "The keys to Frémont's character and personality may lie in his illegitimate birth, ambitious drive for success, self-justification, and passive-aggressive behavior." |
| Tom Bryant | 26 Mar 2011 7:56 p.m. PST |
For the Rebs, hows about John C. Breckenridge? |
| Joe5mc | 27 Mar 2011 2:12 a.m. PST |
I'd put Cornwallis well above average. |
| John the OFM | 27 Mar 2011 6:05 p.m. PST |
Cornwalis lost the South way before Yorktown. That balances Ireland and India. |
| Dasher | 29 Mar 2011 11:45 a.m. PST |
Averaging out wins, losses, loyalty and lack thereof, I'd say Benedict Arnold pretty much boxed the compass. |
| 14Bore | 31 Aug 2011 4:22 p.m. PST |
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| Dashetal | 05 Sep 2011 12:06 p.m. PST |
General Sir Redvers Henry Buller may well be a candidate. He had flashes of good and bad. |
| fitterpete | 06 Sep 2011 5:00 p.m. PST |
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Empires at War  | 14 Sep 2011 10:37 a.m. PST |
pretty much boxed the compass What does that even mean? |
| John D Salt | 15 Sep 2011 4:26 a.m. PST |
Once round the world touching all four corners. HTH. HAND. All the best, John. |
