ACWGC Forums

Could Gen. George Thomas be regarded as the best general in the civil war on either side? He never lost a battle or movement and destroyed 2 confederate armies in the field.

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Lt. Gen. D. Groce
3rd Brigade
Second Division
VIII Corps
AotS
"Everything will be alright in the end, if it's not alright, it's not the end"

Always thought Thomas was amongst the best Union generals. I always felt he did not receive enough credit for his contributions.

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Brigadier General Dale Lastowicka
2nd Brigade
Hindman's Division
Stewart's Corps
Army of Tennessee
Confederate Army

He'd be in the top 3 I would think.

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General Mark Nelms

6/2/XIV/AoC "Blackhawk Brigade"

Union Military Academy Instructor

I do think that if you look closely at all the facts General Pope would come out on top

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General Cam McOmish

Army Commander
Confederate Army of Tennessee
CSA

I have always regarded General Thomas as the best of the Union Generals, and maybe the best on both sides. I can't fault him. It would have been interesting to see what would have happened if he sided with his state.

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General
Frank (Old Banshee) Mullins,
2nd Brigade, 1st Division, XVI Corps.
Army of the Tennessee.

I have to agree, Pope was one of the better generals the south had.

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Lt. Gen. D. Groce
3rd Brigade
Second Division
VIII Corps
AotS
"Everything will be alright in the end, if it's not alright, it's not the end"

I like Thomas, but most of the time he was covered by a higher ranked commander. I do believe that since he was a Southern born general fighting for the North, he would have never received a major command. Grant and he did not get along as well.

MG Elkin
3rd Div (2nd Cav)/XVIth Corps AotT

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I have come to you from the West, where we have always seen the backs of our enemies. . . . Let us look before us, and not behind

I had a book, that I lent out, and haven't gotten back, I think that it was called "The Warrior Generals". In it it compared and contrasted Lee, Grant, Hood, and Thomas. Maybe another one or two, I can't remember. What I DO remember of it though, was that it's conclusion was that Thomas wasn't only the best General that the Union had, but the best of the bunch on either side. (Interesting that Jackson wasn't covered in this book. I'd take him in my top three any day of the week.) I believe that the conclusion was based on his appreciation of logistics, communication, and combined arms. In fact the book brought several things about Thomas to light that I hadn't known. His army was without a doubt the most modern of the field armies in the Civil War. His field telegraph system, mapping, and coordination were superb. If you guys get a chance, check it out. Good, thought provoking book, whether you agree with the conclusions or not, still a good read.

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I tell you, I'm ready to go out tomorrow and go to smashing things.
- General Phil Sheridan

General Rusty Hodgkiss
3rd Brigade Second Division VIII Corps AotS

The Warrior Generals: Combat Leadership in the Civil War by Thomas Buell is a good book. Not only for the light that is put on General Thomas (my favorite general and the reason I am in the Army of Cumberland) but also because of the case study of those 6 generals.
It's a very enjoyable read. Some Rebels may not like it that much because of the way Bobby Lee is portrayed.

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BG David Guégan
XIV Corps Commander

Brittany Volunteers,
Army of the Cumberland

affirmative. The "Rock of Chickamauga" did indeed rock!

Don't agree with the conclusion that Gen. Thomas was the best. He was not a general who could win a war but he was a general who would not lose a battle. It takes a Grant and Sherman to win a war. Not because they are necessarily the best generals but because they are the most agressive generals. Lee and Jackson were similar but lacked the means to turn winning battles into winning a war.

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General Kennon Whitehead
Chatham Grays
AoT II/1/3 (CSA)

He owed a lot to Hood.

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Gen. Jim Garner
Sons of Cleburne
II/I/ANV



"Well, Govan, if we are to die, let us die like men."

MGen.Patrick R. Cleburne

It also takes more than generals to win a war - generals can win battles & conduct campaigns, but Nations win wars. If I had to go into a large battle, I would prefer to do it under George Thomas over any other commander, Union or Confederate.