Who was the best Confederate general?

Answer 1

General Samuel Cooper, who served as Adjutant General and Inspector General was the highest ranking military officer in the CSA.

Cooper technically outranked General Robert E. Lee because he had been advanced to the rank of full general at an earlier date, 16 May 1861. That said, Lee's, later, appointment by the CSA Congress as general-in-chief, 23 January 1865, could be looked upon as an advancement to five star level.

Answer 2

This topic is always open to heated discussion as most people have their favorite and not necessarily the best. My favotire is Stephen Dill Lee. He was present at Fort Sumter as a Captain(?) and delivered the surrender terms to the fort's commander. He was an artillery colonel at Antietam and his artillery saw some major action next to the Dunker Church. He was a brigade commander at the defense of Vicksburg. Then he became head of the Department of Mississppi, Louisianna and Alabama(or some title like that) which placed him over the command of Gen. Forrest. Then he commanded a Division during Hood's advance into Tennesse and the battles of Franklin and Nashville(but he may have missed the latter one due to a wound). After the war, he basically began the veteran's organization the Confederate Veterans, which has now evolved to the Sons of the Confederate Veterans and he was directed the publication of the mutli-volume Confederate Military History. Patrick Cleburne was in the thick of fighting and his troops performed outstandingly in several battles with the Army of Tennessee.

Answer 3

Robert E. Lee is the most obvious choice for that honour - especially as he combined battlefield success with a special quality of nobility and human greatness. Many considered him the true embodiment of the Confederate soul and spirit.

However, his military talent cannot really be judged in isolation from Stonewall Jackson, team-partner in all his great victories, and after Stonewall's death at Chancellorsville, Lee was never on top form again, though Heart disease (mis-diagnosed as rheumatism) may have had something to do with this.

It is significant that both Grant and Sherman rated Joseph E. Johnston higher than Lee, but Johnston fell foul of his own president Jefferson Davis. There was also Sidney Johnston (no relation), rated as the best General in America at the outbreak of the war, but he was killed at Shiloh, before his promise could be properly tested.

Finally, Jefferson Davis declared that his biggest mistake had been not to promote Bedford Forrest, a wild, self-taught cavalry leader who dominated Western Tennessee until the very last weeks of the war.

Answer 4

Most military historians have cited General Robert E. Lee as the best general in the Confederacy. His reputation was good before the war and General in Chief Winfield Scott offered Lee a high ranking position in the Union army.

Answer 5

Stonewall jackson