Assembling the Greatest Civil War Army | History Gone Wilder

[@Scott-fc8ho]

Honestly surprised Longstreet was left out of anything.

[@manilajohn0182]

Army command- Grant I Corps- Longstreet II Corps- Hancock III Corps- Sherman IV Corps- Cleburne V Corps- Meade VI Corps- Reynolds Reserve Corps- McPherson Cavalry Corps- Forrest

[@slimeydon]

I’m thinking John Buford has to be included as a counterweight to Forrest as a cavalry division commander. He was pretty dependable without trying to make big splashes.

[@zsedcftglkjh]

Everyone is a far second compared to Forrest.

[@Alex-ej4wm]

And he can help you (DEPIVE THE ENEMY OF THE HIGH GROUND)!!!👍

[@wayfaringman8418]

John Buford was solid and dependable but Field Marshal Erwin Rommel studied Forrest's campaigns.

[@georgewilkes02]

1st Corps- James Longstreet John Bell Hood Dorsey Pender William Mahone 2nd Corps- Stonewall Jackson John B. Gordon AP Hill DH Hill 3rd Corps- William Hardee Patrick Cleburne John S. Bowen W.H.T. Walker 4th Corps- George Thomas Philip Sheridan John F. Reynolds Absalom Baird 5th Corps- Winfield Scott Hancock Francis C. Barlow John Gibbon George Meade 6th Corps- William T. Sherman John A. Logan James B. McPherson Samuel R. Curtis Cavalry Corps- JEB Stuart Nathan Bedford Forrest Wade Hampton III John Buford Benjamin Grierson

[@keithwhittington1322]

Glad to see Logan in the lineup. Three of my relatives joined because of him.

[@michaeldouglas1243]

Outstanding episode. I really enjoyed that. Glad to see john b. Gordon on there. He is one of my fsvorites, with cleburne and pender a close second.

[@georgewilkes02]

Wade Hampton III as an honorable mention for Cavalry Division command- Dude was an absolute BEAST

[@robertbasin1518]

My corps commanders would be Thomas, Jackson, Sheridan, and Beauregard. Jackson for maneuvering, Thomas and Beauregard to hold an enemy in place, and Sheridan as the shock troops. I wouldn't have a cavalry corps. I'd instead have a division for each corps, for example Forrest with Jackson.

[@adamwurster2876]

I think you could also have added a third cavalry division under John Buford. And perhaps an independent infantry division or under one of your corps under Joshua Chamberlain. Either of them could be your next Union general. I know you are asking the people on Patreon, but I thought I would just throw that out there.

[@cliffwheeler9305]

Very good job Lucas. Am interested why you didn't include Longstreet. Not that he was a logical choice, just interested in your take.

[@rodneylove8027]

Congratulations Doctor Wilder! Has an excellent ring to it. No love for Old Pete?! This list is bold. Some of the picks I've never heard of but your reasons for picking them seem very sound. Great vid! How about the id version? The worst C/W army possible??

[@GhalMaraz777]

I will say you should have added one more person you missed big time on not putting in Henry Hunt for a artillery commander, he was by far the best of all them and never gets the recognition he deserves

[@USchyldt]

I second that. He was a superb artillery commander.

[@wmschooley1234]

Dr. Wilder: Good job. Very thoughtful. Your assemblage of the greatest civil war army had some interesting and perhaps unique individuals included and other not included. The fact that you explained your thought process on why you selected each individual in detail was the best part of today’s video. While I personally would have liked a more combined arms approach that included both cavalry and artillery, the thought and effort you put into this selection really shines through. What’s sad is that many of these officersdid serve in the combined United States Army before secession and the onset of the rebellion. Respectfully, W.S.

[@rome9475]

This was very good!! I would love to see you do the same thing except now you are Lincoln or Jefferson Davis and you had to choose a overall commander, 2 department commanders and 4 army commanders(2 per each department) and who would you put in those 3 roles.

[@drewscoggins3309]

I firmly believe that Forrest could have been a GREAT corp commander with the right staff and overall commander. Split command at shiloh, lack of respect for forrest by west pointers, and dealing with Braxton Bragg truly hurt the souths cause. Forrest dealt with all 3

[@groussac]

I was kind of surprised that James B. McPherson wasn't mentioned. They thought the world of that guy. The Civil War was such a damn shame. A lot of good people got wasted. I'd like to see your listing of good staff officers. Seems like both sides suffered from people in the wrong place at the wrong time, and both sides seemed to keep these people around to keep from hurting their feelings. McClellan and Bragg come to mind, as do Fremont and Hood...

[@stephennewton2223]

Gordon is someone who I would like to know more about. Clearly he was a superb battlefield commander. I have had hints that off the battlefield he did not take care of his men. Nothing definitive, though.

[@g.sergiusfidenas6650]

I would put Emory Upton as Division commander in any of the corps of the army, like his superior, Gen. James Wilson, I do consider him one of the best tacticians in either side of the war at the division level, a brilliant youth with a tragic end. The ever-aggresive Joseph Mower might had fit well under a commander like Hancock also.

[@8rickey]

I'd have a hard time leaving Longstreet and John Reynolds on the sidelines.

[@lanemeyer9350]

George Custer, John Bell Hood and Stonewall Jackson are glaring omissions however still an all-star team here

[@shrapnel77]

Hood was such a disaster in the western theater, that alone should keep him out.

[@stevevicory9623]

Hood was among the best at Divisional command.

[@stevevicory9623]

And Custer was a fighter like Kilpatrick, but not a tactical thought in their heads other than throw cavalry in

[@JBryanHughes]

I love this video! Been thinking about my own Army for the past few weeks and agree with most of yours. I'd make a place for Wade Hampton, George S. Greene and Joseph Kershaw

[@ae1586]

Hampton is super under rated . Never formally educated in military tactics but a very intelligent man and a fast learner . A brave gallant soldier who led from the from and was among the best horseman in the entire war . He was a natural leader and led the charge at Gettysburg east cavalry field “charge them my brave boys charge them!” As he rode head strong into the Michigan cavalry ultimately getting into a tangle with 3 enemy horsemen killing 2 and wounding 1 with his long sword also being shot and slashed himself before his men could pull him to the rear . He also won the largest pure cavalry battle as commander at trevilian station , and his great beefsteak raid is legendary. I live 1 mile from Wade Hampton high school on Wade Hampton Blvd … I also have 2 ancestors that served in kershaws brigade .

[@Rick-Rarick]

Fascinating video. Thanks, as always, for your amazing content!

[@scottgoens7575]

I agree with A.P. Hill and J.E.B Stuart 100%!

[@MegaFlipWilson]

Includes Logan. Excludes Logan’s mentor, McPherson. Funny story about Logan and McPherson observed by Hickenlooper: McPherson began marching towards Raymond the morning of May 12th, with Logan’s division in the lead. McPherson received intel of a large force ahead and deployed the leading brigade into line of battle. After two hours of the men stumbling through rough terrain, everyone is convinced McPherson is being too cautious. The men emerged into an empty field bordered by Fourteen Mile Creek and chased away some skirmishers from the bridge. Logan asked for permission to push across the creek with his leading brigade, which McPherson denied. Rather than rush the next brigade to the front, McPherson had them form into line and march by the flank through the woods, filing into place beside the first brigade. Logan, impatient, now demands he be allowed to push across the creek with his leading brigade. McPherson again denied the request. So far, all they have seen are two companies of infantry guarding the bridge. Logan was furious. McPherson then ordered Logan’s final Brigade to move to the top of the hill in the rear as reserve. Logan again demanded McPherson allow him to push across the creek without delay, and McPherson ordered him to sit down and shut up. About this time, three guns erupt in the distance, and shells crash into the tree line to Logan’s front. Dust clouds arise in the distance, telegraphing the movement of several thousand Confederates across the creek. The third brigade reached their appointed spot, and McPherson ordered Logan to attack. Gregg, with 2700 Confederate troops carefully staged for ambush, counter-attacked. Gregg had no idea he was pitching into a fully deployed Federal division of 5,000 infantry, and spent the remainder of the day struggling to extricate himself from the fight. He had been ordered to avoid an engagement with a larger force and to execute a fighting retreat back to Jackson if pressed by one while Pemberton would emerge from his fortifications and strike Grant in the flank as he passed. Gregg in the confusion was forced to retreat halfway back to Jackson before warning Pemberton, and the warning would not arrive until Grant’s rear guard was safely on the road to Raymond. AFAIK, Logan never again questioned McPherson’s judgement. 😃

[@keithwhittington1322]

I'm a fan of Logan, but completely agree about McPherson, and so did Grant. In the situation you described, McPherson had West Point smarts (1st in class 1853). Logan followed his orders to the t.

[@mattiberger9541]

General Hood or Rhodes should’ve have gotten a division or a brigade under Hill.

[@stevevicory9623]

AP hill as div commander along with Hood and Gordon are my 3 favorites for Dic command.

[@aaronfleming9426]

Super fun video! Of course there are a lot of other generals that could have made the list, but overall it's hard to argue with this assemblage of outstanding generals. Perhaps Benjamin Grierson as a cavalry division leader? Richard Taylor or Samuel Curtis from the Trans-Mississippi theater as divisional commanders?

[@ScarletRebel96]

Now this is a interesting watch

[@Hiddenlotuslord]

Hmmm out of curiosity, why not Longstreet in Hill's place? I know he could sometimes be a little prickly, but he was almost always faithful to his commanding officer and was a solid defensive commander (could serve as the shield to Hardy and Hancock's sword). Also about Forrest, I'm a little iffy in seeing him in an army like this, especially since he has trouble working with others (shown when he drew a gun on Chetham over a bridge crossing)

[@vm.999]

I've been playing a computer game called Total War: American Civil War. It's a game with full-scale units and historical accurate details. I'm looking forward to building your army and testing it on the battlefield!

[@NickDunnP.E.]

I really like your list with the one exception of Forrest. If we question Jackson’s ability to deal with his commanders then Forrest deserves the same scrutiny. Thanks! Go Cats!

[@Hiddenlotuslord]

Precisely. The man pulled a gun on Cheetam over crossing a bridge

[@brucemcrae7395]

I personally believe that James Longstreet ranks with Lee as the South's greatest general. His battlefield performance was second to none and his assessment that the South could not win if it continued to sacrifice it's troops in suicidal frontal assaults (I.e. Pickett's Charge) was a doctrine that Lee unfortunately did not embrace. For Dr. Wilder to exclude him from this list is truly inexplicable.

[@haroldchase4120]

General Thomas has always reminded me of Julius Caesar . Both men often moved once everything was in its place and steamed rolled their enemy’s

[@andrewhodges8660]

I really enjoyed your army you created. Would you be able to do another video about some commanders who were prominent are famous, but do it from the perspective of the reasons you left them off your list I James Longstreet for instance, thank you.

[@HistoryGoneWilder]

Thank you so much for the suggestion. I'll see what I can do.

[@williamashbless7904]

Thomas was very prepared, very meticulous, and very stable. Hard to find a better man. Jackson was a problem child and leaving him out is completely understandable. About the only thing I take exception to is Stuart. Early war, he rode circles around the Union horsemen. After the Yankee’s purged leadership and changed doctrine and training his mastery was much less apparent. His failure at Gettysburg is a serious mark against his legacy(I fully understand that Lee’s orders were vague). But, leaving the Army of Northern Virginia blind, in enemy territory, is unpardonable. I would have to go with Sheridan. Very aggressive, but not rash(like Hood) Your content continues to excel.

[@HistoryGoneWilder]

Thank you so much!

[@robertm.9633]

This video represents multiple discussions among my history friends. We always disagree with fairly valid reasons. Lots of talent to choose from, and we all have our favorites.

[@TomWilson-sy4jo]

Interesting choices, I think when we look at the ANV structure in 1862 we see how Longstreet and Jackson were such different individuals that they brought varying insights to their Army Commander. I think Hancock and Thomas would be the same way. I agree with many of the commenters here that there are still some fantastic commanders available, though maybe next you can assemble the worst Army

[@USchyldt]

I think a good argument could be made for Jesse Reno as a division commander - or at least to command a brigade. He didn't live long enough to really live up to his reputation and perhaps he wouldn't have succeeded well as a corps commander, because he wanted to get cozy with the first rank of his soldiers and charge along with them. That's not what a corps commander should do, but leading a division or a brigade, he could still lead by example - and did so successfully before his death.

[@bjohnson515]

No Thomas Jackson? Pretty impressive in holding off 3 Union Armies in the Valley AP Hill ..... saves the day at Sharpsburg

[@paulscushschofield1288]

Interesting,im a brit and a historian,with a big interest in the american civil war.i think you shiuldve created a "special"division with mosbey leading it,id also swap forrest with stewart,longstreet instead of hill. I also think the biggest mistake linoln made was putting grant in overall charge of the union armies,thomas was the man for that job,his record stands head and shoulders above all the officers on both sides.

[@captainred22449]

This is a cool video, good choices. Here's my picks as Army Commander; I Corps under Maj. General John Reynolds. Even though he was killed at the Battle of Gettysburg, he rallied the actual I Corps in a solid delaying action on McPherson's Ridge. The Divisions of my I Corps falls to John Bell Hood, for his aggressive moves, Henry Heth, he was a solid fighter on the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg, and Cauldwall, for his defensive and support during the Peach Orchard. II Corps under William T Sherman, one of the more capable commanders leading a march to Savannah. His Divisions are under; George Seers Greene, he held a solid defense of Culps Hill, Abner Doubleday, he rallied the I Corps before Newton took over, and Lafayette Mclaws, he took the Peach Orchard. III Corps falls to James Longstreet His divisions fall to; George Pickett, an obvious choice, William H Hardee, and Leonidas Polk my Fourth and final Corps, the IV Corps under Richard Ewell His divisions are; Jubal Early. He had a solid command. John B Gordon, and Dorsey Pender.

[@antoninuspius1747]

I wouldn't put Reynolds in there as it's not a full body of work. He had good moments (Second Bull Run and Seven Days), but kind of botched Fredricksburg when he kept two divisions idle when Meade made his breakthrough. That was also the ONLY time his forces were on the attack, and he didn't do great. All other actions were defensive so we really don't know much about how he'd do on the attack. Also keep in mind he did actually disobey orders at Gettysburg. Yes, all's well that ends well, and agressiveness can be an asset, and generals do need discretion. But his orders were to conduct reconnaissance in force and make a slow withdrawl to the Pipe Creek line. So I just think there isn't enough work to judge, although a couple listed in this video also fall into that bucket as well.

[@captainred22449]

@@antoninuspius1747 my knowledge is that good, so I go off what I learned

[@HardscrabbleBlake1968]

I generally agree with your choices, admit I know nothing of 2nd Cavalry Division commander Carter. I'm not sure Forrest would have gotten along with Stuart, but it's a good choice. 4 Confederates I'm curious about - Robert Rodes, George T. Anderson, Richard Taylor, Edward Walthall - any thoughts on them.

[@HardscrabbleBlake1968]

Put Wade Hampton or Fitzhugh Lee in command of Forrest's division, and give him command of a special Raider Division. It would have 3 brigades - Wilder's Lighning Brigade, Sul Ross's Texans, and Tyree Bell's Tenneseans.

[@SuziQ499]

Eugene Asa Niel Carr the black bearded Cossack Fantastic commander of Infantry and cavalry deserves a division spot as does Israel Bush Richardson overall I think you get it right but I would exclude Forrest and insert Wilder or Grierson imho.

[@JoMoRising13]

Okay, now that you have your army assembled and trained, who would you choose as their opponents, from who is left? 2nd. best might work out well if they are a good fit.

[@jamess7576]

Give me Hooker over Barlow for division commander. I would want a Cavalry division of Buford with brigadiers of Minty, Wilder, and Merritt.

[@drivingonice]

I am kind of surprised you didn't include some of the men like Sherman or Grant. Is that because you consider them overall comand material and not as good at the lower tiers?

[@HistoryGoneWilder]

Yes, the men I chose thrived at the corps, division, and brigade level.

[@acdragonrider]

@@HistoryGoneWilderI’m surprised you didn’t mention Longstreet given his legendary command of the ANV’s First Corps. Chamberlain and Longstreet are the first I’d want on my roll of honor

[@MegaFlipWilson]

@@HistoryGoneWilderGrant was pretty hot as a corps commander at Champion Hill (in direct command of Logan and Hovey’s divisions only, and reinforcements from Crocker’s troops as they arrived).

[@scott9494]

This channel is the best 😁...

[@philiphales2109]

Personally, I would have included General Thomas Hindman instead of General Earl Maney. Hindman was a prewar law partner of Cleburne, and was an able division commander, though I would have placed him in command of Ector’s Texans, Granbury’s Texans, and Stovall’s Georgians.

[@michaelhendricks9229]

This might be slightly biased but Edward Winslow deserves a brigade under JEB Stuart, but that might be just because my GGGF spent four years in the 4th Iowa Cavalry. Hahah. Great video as always. Keep up the great work.

[@mikefleischauer498]

How about Joshua Chamberlain as a brigade commander somewhere?

[@the1magageneral323]

I would create special troops like how John S Mosby did and that general who he captured in his sleep was partly done by a deserter.

[@stevevicory9623]

Wow. Of course these are subjective which is what makes it fun, but ... I would have AP Hill ranked best at Divisional command but even there he was a bit sloppy leaving gaps at Fredricksburg and 2nd Bull Run. I believe he was only ok at corps command as his energy level was more and more inconsistent by mid 1863. Him and Hood were outstanding at Division. Gordon and Mahomes and Wright i feel are all excellent Divisional commanders as well.

[@brickgamer2011]

Who would lead this Army? Who would be the staff and advisors?

[@USchyldt]

Staff and advisors would be a great follow-up. Gouverneur K Warren as cheif engineer, perhaps? I would also argue for Daniel Butterfield as chief of staff. He was a good organizer, understood the importance of morale and how important it was for soldiers to be proud of their unit. Meade didn't * like * him, but not for his lack of skill.

[@ritajones7584]

I've been to George Manny's grave in Mount Olivet in Nashville , he's Buried under a big beautiful cedar tree . Many other prominent confederates are there even the 1860 presidential candidate John Bell

[@HistoryGoneWilder]

I love visiting that cemetery.

[@ritajones7584]

@@HistoryGoneWilder Thank you for all the knowledge Dr Wilder

[@bprid135]

What a army that would be!

[@robertreisner8132]

US Major General George Henry Thomas. He never lost a battle when in the command of the troops.

[@nathangottschalk1049]

I really would have loved to see Nathaniel Lyon career had he not been killed at Wilson’s creek. I believe Peter j osterhaus would of been a solid choice aswell

[@donaldharris3037]

I would have Cheatman and Bowen as division commanders and might have picked Longstreet over AP Hill

[@CAROLUSPRIMA]

I’d have AP Hill but at division command. I’d also want John Bell Hood in division command. I’d prefer Longstreet over Hardee for corps command. But all in all I think you have a pretty good batch of general officers.

[@Farlomous]

4 Corps Commanders Reynolds, Hancock, Thomas and Longstreet Reynolds Division commanders Meade, Wadsworth and probably Slocum; Hancock's divisions Gibbon, Howard, Griffin; Thomas Division Baird, Alpheus Williams, and Sherman as a division commander. Longstreet I would give Hood, Cleburne and Jackson as division commanders. don't know enough of the brigade commanders to give well thought out response, but George Sears Greene from the XII Corps AoP would be one of the top choices.

[@mattiberger9541]

I think Early should’ve gotten some credit as well.

[@a.N.....]

ultimate general civil war lets you live out some of these digital fantasies. its a great game.

[@PeterPan54167]

Do you think Forrest and Stuart would get along? Forrest has a reputation of getting into it with his superiors.

[@mannymcmac1544]

I can’t really argue that list one bit but I’d also have gotten Phil Kearny in there

[@HistoryGoneWilder]

I love kearney. One of my first obsessions to study about the war.

[@OhioDan]

No Longstreet, eh?

[@nickroberts-xf7oq]

Best friend the Federals ever had ! 🇺🇸

[@XLence3530]

Great job with the video but I gotta disagree with you with AP Hill being used as a Corp Commander while Longstreet rides the bench.

[@HistoryGoneWilder]

That's cool. I'm open to other arguments. Longstreet's standout moments are the Wilderness and Chickamauga. He failed miserably at Wauhatchie and in East Tennessee. His flank attack at Second Manassas was impressive but I think he was lackluster at Antietam and he was slow at Gettysburg. There's good and bad with him. 1864 A. P. Hill was better than Longstreet overall. But they are probably even if you look at them both overall.

[@andybaker5466]

Imagine if you put all them together under one army they could have taken over the world at that time!

[@banjomanmi76-hu8wf]

At Blocher's Knoll, Barlow caused the collapse of his division and the Union Right by his over-extension. A flawed pick in my opinion.

[@Skipper.17]

The obvious question I have is where would Grant and Lee be placed in this army.

[@Tusky-ln9jr]

Hardee is the main questionable pick IMHO. Stonewall, Longstreet, or Sherman seem like a stronger Corp commander. And John bell hood would have to have one of my divisions. But overall a solid lineup. Not as predictable as most

[@michaelhenry8890]

Home run picks.

[@Mr2Badboybrown]

As an Irishman I would not have Cleburne who before leaving Ireland for the US he fought for the British against his own people (once a traitor always a traitor)

[@Tusky-ln9jr]

Very crude assessment of cleburne. He joined the British infantry in hopes of traveling to India, see the world, and create a career for himself. He was then stationed at home in Ireland and bought his discharge and left for the US as millions of other Irish did. He basically left Ireland when it was clear to him he would only be used by the crown to oppress his own people……I’m bias as I’m an Arkansan and he is one of our proudest adopted sons

[@meemo32086]

I'm waiting to see why Burnside is up there!!😮

[@doorsfan48]

Id put Burnside in my army over Hooker. Burnside wouldn't undermine you and would be a serviceable corp commander with good people around him

[@andygossard4293]

You need to go head to head with Atun Shei, Checkmate Lincolnites. Have all the best and most virtuous generals from the South, then watch the sparks fly.

[@luke8957]

No Uncle Dan!?!?

[@RakkasanRakkasan]

Teacher well now you need to do bios on some of the lesser known generals. But THOMAS THOMAS THOMAS the rock the hammer.

[@PogLife2171]

I really think Longstreet deserves a spot in the line up, it's very hard to argue that overall he was one of the most dependable corps commanders even with his issues with subordinates from time to time. It would be really fascinating if him and Ulysses S. Grant happened to both be on the same side If things shook out differently.

[@nickroberts-xf7oq]

Longstreet almost always delayed, procrastinated and hem hawed around rather than attack. 😅

[@PogLife2171]

@@nickroberts-xf7oq Ehhh there's more than enough evidence to disprove that point. It's pretty objective he was very quick when he needed to be, and most of the "delaying" narrative comes from him missing Chancellorsville, which he was bringing back supplies and couldn't just abandon them when the army desperately needed them. Was he perfect? Absolutely not, but most modern scholarship would attest that he was easily one of the few consistently good commanders.

[@nickroberts-xf7oq]

@PogLife2171 He WAS Lee's "war horse", for sure. But he delayed at Gettysburg, during his Knoxville in independent command. He was there nearly 2 weeks before attacking. 🤔

[@Scott-fc8ho]

@@nickroberts-xf7oq how did he delay at Gettysburg?

[@nickroberts-xf7oq]

@@Scott-fc8ho Seriously......

[@davidbeard1115]

The entire Iron Brigade not just Gibbon.

[@samcollins8174]

I have decided to do one for both the Union and the Confederacy. I also included a general staff for the commanding officer while keeping it to four commands and three divisions each. Included in these is a chief of artillery and brigade commanders which were the Confederacy is four per division. I will post the Union Army later which will include three brigades per division and everything else the exact same. Army: General Robert Edward Lee Second in Command: General Pierre G.T. Beauregard Chief of Staff: BG Gilbert M. Sorrel Chief of Artillery: MG Stephen D. Lee Chief of Engineering: MG Martin L. Smith Chief of Ordnance: BG Edward P. Alexander Chief of Commissary: BG Isaac M. St. John Quartermaster General: Maj. John A. Harman Adjutant General: Col Walter H. Taylor I Corps: LtG James Longstreet 1st Division: MG John Bell Hood Brigades: BG George T. Anderson, Henry L. Benning, John Gregg & Micah Jenkins 2nd Division: MG Edward Johnson Brigades: BG William Mahone, Isaac R. Trimble, Edward L. Thomas & Charles W. Field 3rd Division: MG Lafayette McLaws Brigades: BG Cadmus Marcellus Wilcox, Joseph B. Kershaw, William Barksdale & William T. Wofford Artillery: BG William R.J. Pegram II Corps: LtG Thomas Jonathan Jackson 1st Division: MG Jubal Anderson Early Brigades: BG Robert Frederick Hoke, Junius Daniel, Henry Heth & Cullen A. Battle 2nd Division: MG John Brown Gordon Brigades: BG Alfred Mouton, George P. Doles, William E. Starke & Samuel Garland 3rd “Light” Division: MG Ambrose P. Hill Brigades: BG William D. Pender, John J. Pettigrew, Abner M. Perrin & George E. Maney Artillery: BG Armistead L. Long III Corps: LtG Richard Taylor 1st Division: MG Alexander P. Stewart Brigades: BG John C. Breckinridge, Edmund W. Pettus, Carter L. Stevenson & Alfred Cumming 2nd Division: MG Patrick R. Cleburne Brigades: BG Daniel C. Govan, States R. Gist, Mark P. Lowrey & Lucius E. Polk 3rd Division: MG Robert E. Rodes Brigades: BG Edward C. Walthall, John C. Brown, Stephen D. Ramseur & Arthur M. Manigault Artillery: BG Reuben L. Walker Cavalry: LtG James E.B. Stuart 1st Division: MG Wade Hampton Brigades: BG Thomas Green, Matthew C. Butler & John H. Kelly 2nd Division: MG William H.F. Lee Brigades: BG Thomas T. Munford, John C. Vaughn & James Dearing 3rd Division: MG Fitzhugh Lee Brigades: BG Abraham Buford, James R. Chalmers & Joseph O. Shelby 4th Division: MG Nathan Bedford Forrest Brigades: BG John A. Wharton, BG Arthur Pendleton Bagby & Philip Dale Roddey Artillery: BG John Pelham

[@samcollins8174]

Here is the Union Army, I decided to make it 4 brigades per division as well. Army: LtG Ulysses Grant Second in Command: MG William Tecumseh Sherman Chief of Staff: MG Andrew A. Humphreys Chief of Intelligence: MG Grenville M. Dodge Chief of Artillery: MG Henry J. Hunt Chief of Engineering: MG Gouverneur K. Warren Quartermaster General: BG Montgomery C. Meigs Adjutant General: BG John Aaron Rawlins I Corps: MG George Henry Thomas 1st Division: MG James S. Wadsworth Brigades: BG Thomas E. G. Ransom, Nathan Kimball, James D. Morgan & Nelson A. Miles 2nd Division: MG Israel B. Richardson Brigades: BG Thomas Alfred Smyth, Alexander S. Webb, Francis C. Barlow & Régis de Trobriand 3rd Division: MG George G. Meade Brigades: BG John F. Reynolds, George J. Stannard, John Gibbon & John Eugene Smith Artillery: BG George W. Getty II Corps: MG William Starke Rosecrans 1st Division: MG John Grubb Parke Brigades: BG John J. Peck, Joshua L. Chamberlain, David B. Birney & Adelbert Ames 2nd Division: MG Edward Otho Cresap Ord Brigades: BG Peter Joseph Osterhaus, Jefferson C. Davis, Samuel Beatty & Absalom Baird 3rd Division: MG Henry W. Slocum Brigades: BG John A. Logan, William B. Hazen, Rutherford B. Hayes & Charles Griffin Artillery: BG Emory Upton III Corps: MG Winfield Scott Hancock 1st Division: MG Alpheus S. Williams Brigades: BG Thomas H. Ruger, George S. Greene, Joseph B. Carr & Samuel S. Carroll 2nd Division: MG James B. Steedman Brigades: BG Emerson Opdycke, Joseph A. Mower, Marcellus M. Crocker & William P. Carlin 3rd Division: MG Fitz John Porter Brigades: BG Frank Wheaton, David Allen Russell, Lewis A. Grant & Joseph J. Bartlett Artillery: BG Samuel W. Crawford Cavalry: MG James H. Wilson 1st Division: MG David S. Stanley Brigades: BG Andrew J. Smith, George A. Custer & Samuel P. Carter 2nd Division: MG David M. Gregg Brigades: BG Ranald S. Mackenzie, Benjamin H. Grierson & John Wynn Davidson 3rd Division: MG John Sedgwick Brigades: BG Eli Long, Philip Kearny & Lovell H. Rousseau 4th Division: MG John Buford Brigades: BG Eugene A.N. Carr, William W. Averell & Thomas C. Devin Artillery: BG John Milton Brannan

[@thoughtfulpug1333]

I'd say Maney doesn't really deserve the selection. Not saying he was bad, but he wasn't a particularly good division commander. btw, Maney wasn't captured by the Union; the reason he lost his command was...well we don't know. After the 1st day of Jonesborough, Cleburne (acting as corps commander while Hardee lead the army in the field) removed him from command. Castel claims it was because he had performed poorly in the battle, but that doesn't make much sense given his performance in the battle was not as egregiously bad as, say, Lowrey's, who literally lost control of his division. I've seen suggestions it was because of a recurring ailment from a wound sustained at Missionary Ridge. I am writing a book on Jonesborough (because no one else has), and I have found nothing. Maney said nothing about it in his battle report; Carter, his successor, said nothing on the matter in his; Hardee didn't mention it in his report; Irving Buck, adjutant to Cleburne, doesn't mention it in his biography of his chief. Chris Losson, in his book on Cheatham's Division (which Maney was commanding at the time), suggests that Cleburne was the adjudicator of the decision, but we can't know his reasoning because of his death. If Cleburne did live into the post-bellum era, I can say for certain he would have brought the reasons to light, probably in an attempt to explain away his poor coordination of Hardee's corps in the August 31st assault. Possibly...considering how Maney brushes past any real explanation of his relief in his report, makes no attempt to argue against it, and doesn't seem that defensive of his performance, I wonder if Maney agreed with whatever reasoning Cleburne gave, if any, for the relief order. In his stead, I'd suggest Alexander P. Stewart, "Old Straight", who was another alumn of Cheatham's Division; Ed Walthall, who was selected by Forrest to lead the infantry rearguard during the retreat from Nashville, a job he performed brilliantly; or Harry Heth, probably the most underrated division commander in the Army of Northern Virginia. And yeah, I'd not go with A. P. Hill. His record as a division commander is spectacular, but his time in corps command I can find little real value. His corps seemed to perform better under his temporary replacements Early & Heth, and I can find few instances where his handling of the battlefield secured success. I'd have gone with Early or even Gordon. And I wouldn't have gone with Sam Carter for the 2nd Cav Division. There's a plethora of guys I'd have gone with over him. Robert Minty (though he was only a colonel he was above and beyond the best cavalry officer in the Army of the Cumberland without contest); David Gregg; George Crook; William Averell; John Buford (though I consider him slightly overrated); Wesley Merritt; George Custer; and Edward Hatch. And thats just going with the yankees for balance purposes; if I was going to chose another confederate, I'd go for Van Dorn, Wheeler (better role for him), or Hampton.

[@ryanm3715]

Funny you have Bragg on the thumbnail, maybe the worst and mist hated Army commander of both sides lol.

[@rdf4315]

Disappointed not to see cleburne on your list.

[@pvtpublic77]

lol...look again 2:56

[@martinmabry5460]

Not Braxton Bragg.

[@acdragonrider]

James Longstreet and Ulysses Grant Winfield Scott Hancock and George Meade. Patrick Cleburne, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, Charles Griffin, Romeyn Ayres, William Mahone, John Hood, and John B Gordon at division level. Nathan Bedford Forrest and Phil Sheridan in charge of the cavalry corps. Artillery; Henry Hunt and Edward Porter Alexander I’d want the 69th NY.

[@jedrzejlehman3987]

Looks solid, I like too see opposite paly in future , make the worst army ever 😃

[@terryl7874]

I agree on many selections and the reasons given. I would also include Grant because of his tendency to never give up on his goals. I don’t particularly like Jackson or Longstreet. Over rated and were a narcissist. Sherman no doubt was a good person but he did have some demons to deal with. Lee was pig headed definitely overrated as well.

[@GERMANVSFVLMINATVS]

Hill > Jackson 👏🏻

[@Philistine47]

I'd probably assign myself as President, so that I could name an Army commander as well as a vice commander and thus bring in Grant and Sherman.

[@aaronfleming9426]

Why would you bring in Sherman, besides the fact that his brother was a senator? But great choice with Grant! Also, interesting question I can't decide for myself: If you had Grant and Lee on the same side, in the same army, how would you assign them? I lean toward Grant as army commander and Lee in charge of a corps, performing the sort of aggressive role that Jackson did as a corps commander for Lee. I think Lee in that capacity, with Grant's cooler thinking and superior strategic mind at the top, would be pretty amazing.

[@EdwardArmstrong-y3f]

Thank God for The Union General Grant

[@michaelnewton5873]

Of course you know you are wrong for about 40% of your viewers.

[@wmschooley1234]

Dr. Wilder: Good job. Very thoughtful. Your assemblage of the greatest civil war army had some interesting and perhaps unique individuals included and other not included. The fact that you explained your thought process on why you selected each individual in detail was the best part of today’s video. While I personally would have liked a more combined arms approach that included both cavalry and artillery, the thought and effort you put into this selection really shines through. What’s sad is that many of these officersdid serve in the combined United States Army before secession and the onset of the rebellion. Respectfully, W.S.

[@HistoryGoneWilder]

I thought about adding artillery and if I did, I probably would have chosen either Poague or Stephen D. Lee to head my artillery.