"The 5 stupidest losses of the American Civil War" Topic

"Military history is full of blunders. Even the best among history's greatest leaders made mistakes in their careers, often at critical times. Napoleon took too long to invade Russia. The Crusader kingdoms decided to march their army in full armor across a burning desert to attack Saladin on his own ground, heck President Truman even called Douglas MacArthur a "dumb son-of-a b*tch."

It happens.

During the American Civil War, any ill-timed loss or setback could have been catastrophic for either side. So winning when it mattered was vitally important. Too bad no one told these guys…"

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Armand

"The Crusader kingdoms decided to march their army in full armor across a burning desert"

As I recall, in 1189, there was only 'armour – and in Outremer, only heat or 'desert'- or both.
(plus a few dates and oranges, obvs)

Very poorly written. And one of the 'losses' for the Union was Antietam…

Nope, missed the biggest two. First, Battle of Franklin. Followed closely by the Battle of Nashville. Hood destroyed an entire army in just two battles thru stupidity.

Have to agree with Franklin and Nashville. Hard to find a commander worse then Braxton Bragg for that command, but somehow they did.

""Thank you." Shaking his head and rolling his eyes. I would doubt them too."

Yet McClellan's reaction when presented the Lost Order was:
"Here is a paper with which, if I cannot whip Bobby Lee, I will be willing to go home."

He apparently didn't doubt them very much.

"But he hesitated" should be on McClellan 's gravestone…best summation of his generalship I've ever read

Copies of Order 191 have survived. The Order was found in a delivery envelope, with the cigars. It was authenticated by an officer on Mac's staff who had served with Lee's adjutant, whose signature was familiar to him. The orders were later confirmed as authentic. The story is very likely true, as I understand it.

The plains of hesitation are littered with the bones of those who on the dawn of victory laid down to rest…and…resting, died !

But "they were the last reserve of the Republic". NO wargamer would ever not commit them.

I don't see how Franklin could be left off the list. Nashville I would omit, simply because I am not sure that Hood had a better alternative.

In defense of McClellan, and it is not much of one, Lee's behavior in the later part of the Antietam Campaign only made sense if Lee had a much larger army than he in fact had.

Also I have never been able to find proof that "last reserve of the Republic" line was uttered by either McClellan or Porter on the field at Antietam. At that point usually mentioned the VI Corps was largely unscathed, Crouch's division was coming up, there were substantial troops in the defenses of Washington in addition to Porter's uncommitted troops, and both McClellan and Porter should have been aware of this.

If you come at the question from a different angle, essentially every Confederate Ironclad that was lost was under some pretty stupid circumstances.

If he hadn't hesitated, he wouldn't be McClellan.

Glup!…

Armand

I have never been able to find proof that "last reserve of the Republic" line was uttered

Any idea where the "quote" first came from?

Hood was trying to besiege an army that was larger than his and had an open supply line. He did have a choice. Retire and save your army.

As many have suggested, this is why in my game some generals have special abilities in addition to a tactical rating, one of the special abilities is "cautious"……its not a good one to have:)

Ha!…

Armand

I have never been able to find proof that "last reserve of the Republic" line was uttered

Any idea where the "quote" first came from?

Sears, p. 291; McPherson, pp. 543–44.

McPherson references Thomas Anderson, Battles and Leaders, II, 656n.

Murfin makes no mention in his book.

The statement is likely apocryphal.

Kim