Question of the Week: Who was the most capable commander who didn’t survive 1861?
Which of the following military leaders who died in the war’s first year do you think was most capable and why? – Albert S. Johnston, Nathaniel Lyon, Barnard Bee, Edward D. Baker
Albert Sidney Johnston, without a doubt.
Albert Sidney Johnson but he died in April of 1862.
Is the question restricted to just the four names mentioned in the question, or for any commanders who died in 1861?
I’m going to chose a name not listed – Elmer Ellsworth. Due to his connections with the Lincoln Administration, I believe he would have risen up the ranks. He never got a chance to fight, so we can’t really judge how he would have done under fire. I’m picking him based off potential more than anything else.