Confederate President Jefferson Davis
A different kind of post…
I recently finished Steven E. Woodworth’s excellent Decision in the Heartland: The Civil War in the West, a slim volume that succinctly and persuasively surveys the war in the west and argues that it is the Western theater where the Union won the war. Woodworth especially highlights the dearth of good, solid Confederate leadership out west. He places blame of much of the Army of Tennessee’s various crises in command at the foot of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, a position he furthers in his work Jefferson Davis and His Generals.
Woodworth makes a strong case for his Western-centric views and the faults he finds in Jeff Davis. Yet as I pondered the situations and scenarios Davis faced, I was struck by the sheer difficulty of his choices and the murkiness of his options. And I wondered…what would I do?
So I ask, what would you do? This post will be an experiment in engagement, participation and interaction between bloggers, readers, and our imaginations alike. I’ll give you the scenario.
Current Army of Tennessee Commander Braxton Bragg
It is the cold winter of 1863/1864. Braxton Bragg is the commander of the Confederate Army of Tennessee out west. He has retained command of the army for some time, seeing it through the ill-fated Kentucky campaign and the bloodbath at Stones River. He managed a fortuitous but incomplete victory at Chickamauga, then ensnared the Union army at Chattanooga…only to see his efforts stymied by the work of Union generals William “Baldy” Smith and Ulysses S. Grant. He has offered his resignation to you (Jefferson Davis) before, and he is offering it again. Bragg has little support within the army and even less among the acrimonious officer corps. The campaigning season of 1864 is on the horizon; Atlanta and the Deep South must be defended. Do you keep the controversial Bragg or replace him? If you’re thinking the latter, with whom do you replace Bragg?
Candidate Joseph Johnston
Perhaps you bring back popular Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard, the victor of Manassas and the victim of Corinth? He’s been inconsistent in his leadership to say the least. Do you promote one of your bitter enemies, Joseph E. Johnston? Johnston failed to save General Pemberton and Vicksburg the year prior in a devastating blow to the Confederacy, but he’s a popular choice among many officers and still retains a credible military resume.
Candidate John Bell Hood
Maybe the choice should stay in-house. You could appoint William J. Hardee, the senior corps officer of the Army of Tennessee, over his own objections to promotion. Do you search for someone more aggressive and fiery, perhaps the Texan warrior John Bell Hood or the adopted Arkansan-Irishman Patrick Cleburne? The Eastern theater contains a bounty of skilled officers, maybe one of them should get a chance with the Army of Tennessee. Longstreet, despite Knoxville? Hill? Ewell? Early? Lee himself? The answer could even lay even further west, across the great Mississippi, to someone like Edmund K. Smith or Richard Taylor.
Candidate Patrick Cleburne
In short, play armchair general. Who takes command if you are Jefferson Davis in the winter of 1863/’64 and why? Keep in mind the time-frame; some things have yet to be revealed or have happened (Johnston’s “fighting” retreat to the gates of Atlanta, Hood’s Nashville nightmare, Taylor’s brilliant victory at Mansfield, etc.). Other military, political, social or economic calculations may factor into your decision. This should be a fun discussion and debate! Keep it civil, but prepare to defend your appointment and challenge those of others!
Who do you choose?
Western Theater
I would choose General Beauregard. (Of course, Jefferson Davis could not bring himself to do so because he would never let go of a grudge. But “my” Jefferson Davis gets over it.) The reasoning is that Davis longed for a leader with aggression and proactive, creative intelligence–Beauregard fills that bill. Also, he was esteemed by the men as well as the general population. As much as I respect his capabilities, Johnston, also beloved by the rank and file, fell short in aggressiveness which resulted in constant frustration and conflict between the Army of Tennessee and Richmond during the ensuing months. Then came the pendulum-swing, ill-advised replacement of Johnston by the definitely aggressive–but neither intelligent, proactive, nor creative–Hood.
Beauregard inconsistent in his leadership?? He consistently exceeded the highest possible expectation given what he had to work with. For example, he wrought a miracle in Charleston staving off the Yankee invasion in 1863. Come to think of it, if named to command the Army of Tennessee he could not have risen to the occasion in Petersburg during the crucial days of June 1864 when he saved that city.
Patrick Cleburne would be an excellent choice given his innate and demonstrated ability. But I suspect his promotion-from-within over senior, West Point-trained officers would cause resentment among the corps and division commanders, and this Army has had enough of that. Of course, “my” Jefferson Davis would not hold against him his proposal to recruit enslaved people in exchange for their freedom–this would provide evidence for his creative thinking, exactly what was needed at this juncture. However, he has not been tested on such a high level of command. Therefore, my first choice is Beauregard (who very much wants this command), and second choice is Cleburne.
Cleburne… nobody else even close to this man’s ability.
I would go with Longstreet. He is a proven commander in the field. He can see the odds and knows how to fight well. He’s not as popular as Beauregard and he’s not as aggressive as Hood but he’s a good fighter and an able general.
Sorry to be late to the party. I saved this post until I really had a chance to read and think about it. I have decided I would choose Longstreet, and this based on the fact that I would have spoken to Lee about taking the command himself. I don’t think Lee could have left the Army of NoVa–it broke his heart as it was. But Lee trusted Pete, and had enough confidence to ask him for help in other circumstances–Longstreet was probably correct at Gettysburg.
Also, I think I would bring in someone from outside the Western Command structure. It would bypass any number of problems with personalities. I don’t think I could have any stomach for arming slaves, either. So–Longstreet has the battlefield cred, and Lee’s support give him pretty strong chops as well.
Good answers all.
I must admit, I’m tempted to go two routes. I like the choice of Patrick Cleburne as well. He has an exemplary record as a commander. My greatest concern is that he’s never commanded above the division level, nor held an independent command. Lots of generals who perform ably at a certain level don’t live up to the hype at the next (I’m thinking of A.P. Hill or Longstreet). Nevertheless, I think his record simply shouldn’t be ignored.
I’m weary of sending Longstreet west simply because Lee would fight the move every step of the way, perhaps with good reason. Especially after the loss of Jackson, taking away Longstreet leaves Lee with largely fresh, untested and questionable corps commanders. Beauregard may be a solid choice as well…but he was sacked in the first place for taking an extended leave of absence to visit a health spa after the Battle of Corinth. Johnston failure to fight to save Vicksburg is simply inexcusable to me and indicative of his future action. Which leads me to my second choice…
Retaining Braxton Bragg. Bragg may have been borish, petty, and immensely disliked by all, but I think he was a solid commander. You cannot judge Bragg without taking into account the extreme insubordination of his corps commanders, most of whom were under the sway of Leonidas Polk (worst general in the Confederacy, anyone?). I say you keep Bragg and sack Polk to send a message. Without Polk stirring the pot, Bragg may not be liked by his officers, but they would obey him. Replace Polk with Cleburne, granting him a corps command. I think such a clear message in favor of Bragg would help boost his self-esteem and the stability of the army’s politics.
I agree that Lee would want to hold on to Longstreet, but I doubt if he would get in the way of another man’s success. Besides, I’m the President of the Confederacy, right? Harumph! Cleburne would have been my second choice, but I would be concerned by that lack of experience in independent command, or above a certain level. Perhaps he could come with Longstreet. Lee’s reliance on Ol’ Pete tells me he was capable of more than he had previously done.
But Bragg? He was hated by all, and the issues with his commanders dogged him most of his career, before Polk for sure. I’d have to agree with my wife’s best friend, Mary Chestnut . . . Bragg is the ugliest man in the Army! Now HE looks more like the Original Gorilla–jus’ sayin’, y’all.
Seriously, I’d have canned Polk a while ago, but I am not going to give command of the West to anyone just to boost his self-esteem. I say replace Polk with Cleburne, under Longstreet, and THEN the Army’s politics should stabilize. Unless those rumors about Cleburne are true . . . well, I guess “don’t ask, don’t tell” might work.
What rumors about Cleburne?
The party is building!
Hmmm–I am liking Breckinridge!! A lot! For all the above reasons, plus, since the South is in increasingly dire straits, it would be good to have Breckinridge around. He could approach Lincoln, et al., and attempt a political deal concerning food, prisons, medicine, etc. OK–maybe he could do it all in the field, and the South wins–yeah, sure, that will happen. I am still liking Breckinridge, a lot! He has both military cred and political cred.
And about Cleburne? The International Gay & Lesbian Review claims he is gay, and in 1994, The Tennesean (according the Internet) wrote a story in which an author claimed that Confederate Major General Patrick Cleburne was gay.
Then, it seems that Randy Shilts, author of Conduct Unbecoming: Gays and Lesbians in the U.S. Military, wrote: “Cleburne’s intimate relationship with his 22-year old adjutant, Captain Irving Ashby Buck, drew the notice of the general’s colleagues. Cleburne’s biographer John Francis Maguire wrote that the general’s ‘attachment’ to Buck ‘was a very strong one, and that Buck ‘for nearly two years of the war shared Cleburne’s labors during the day and his blankets at night.’ Buck wrote that the two were ‘close and confidential.’”
The ONLY reason I know any of this is that someone at work asked me if I was watching Sex In The Civil War, on the History Channel. I said I was not, but I would check it out. I found a couple of references to Cleburne, but not much else that I wanted to know too much about.
Then, out of nowhere–General Cleburne is in this column, and, well . . . this is how rumors get started, I guess.
Let’s get some more images up–maps, and a pic of Cleburne–?
I also am late to the party. I’m surprised there haven’t been a lot more responses to this fascinating question. Here are my thoughts:
In the winter of 1863-1864 there are only 5 full Generals in the CS Army. In order of rank they are Samuel Cooper, Lee, Joseph Johnston, Beauregard and Bragg. After the Missionary Ridge disaster, Bragg must go – he has lost the confidence of his army. He realizes this and asks to be relieved. Cooper is the adjutant general – not a field commander. Lee is best left in VA. Johnston is available but has done a poor (almost negligent) job supporting Pemberton in Vicksburg. Beauregard is in chronic ill health and has previously (Jan 1863) told his superiors that he did not think his health could withstand the cold weather if he is sent to Tennessee.
Perhaps you want to promote one of the available Lieutenant Generals and assign him to command the army. On January 1, 1864 there are 6 living Lieutenant Generals. In order of rank they are Longstreet, Kirby Smith, Polk, Theophilus Holmes, Hardee and Pemberton. Ewell and A.P. Hill have been nominated but their promotions have not confirmed by Congress. They have already been acting as corps commanders for Lee but have turned in unimpressive performances in the Gettysburg campaign.
Longstreet has not shone during his independent commands in the Suffolk campaign and the Knoxville campaign. Kirby Smith is a possibility. Polk and Holmes? Seriously? Hardee, the temporary commander of the Army of Tennessee, is offered the job but turns it down. Pemberton is not an option after surrendering Vicksburg. (Hood is still recuperating from his wounds and will not be promoted Lieutenant General until February).
If you allow for promotions, Kirby Smith is an option. He has limited Civil War combat experience (wounded at First Manassas, commanded successfully at the Battle of Richmond, KY) but showed a disturbing inability to play well with others when it came to coordinating with Bragg in the remainder of the Kentucky campaign of 1862. He’s going a good job of administering the Trans – Mississippi, so it might be best to leave him there.
So, if you stick with the full generals, Johnston is really the only choice – and he does a good job of reorganizing the army that winter.
Another interesting question would be: Who do you replace Johnston with after you become convinced that he has no plan to prevent the capture of Atlanta? Polk has been killed on June 14th, otherwise there have been only two changes : Kirby Smith has been promoted to full General, and Richard Taylor has been promoted to Lieutenant General. (Early and Richard Anderson have been promoted by Lee to temporary Lieutenant Generals, but this has not been approved by Congress). Unfortunately, although only 38 years old, Taylor is in ill-health and has requested to be relieved from duty due to his poor health.
Cleburne has a big fan club, but he is outranked in the list of Major Generals by other more experienced leaders (D.H. Hill and John C. Breckinridge among others). D.H. Hill has been in poor health most of the war. Breckinridge would be an interesting choice. He was wounded at Shiloh, fought at Stones River, Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge. Transferring east he won the Battle of New Market and fought at Cold Harbor. He had plenty of political savvy, having been Vice President of the U.S., Southern Democratic nominee for President in 1860, and eventually Secretary of War for the CSA. He may have been the best choice, clearly having demonstrated his ability to work with others.
So, it boils down to Johnston or Kirby Smith, with Breckinridge as a wild card There’s just not that many people available..