9 Responses to Question of the Week: Which Civil War generals were best and worst at playing politics?
McClellan was best at politics, hands down. He did run for president, after all. But probably his greatest contribution was winning western Virginia over to the Union side. If he hadn’t been so politically adept in that first 3-month campaign, things could have been far worse. In other words, someone like Pope would probably have chased the whole region into supporting secession and any Union army would’ve been faced with nasty guerrilla warfare instead of a friendly population, the Restored Government, and local recruits.
If this is expanded to office or army politics, instead of just partisan politics, Grant was very good at office politics given his rapid rise. On the other hand, GK Warren lost a promising career due to a failure to master office politics.
For the general best at playing politics, there is a strong case to be made for Joseph Hooker. When many officers in the Army of the Potomac fell under McClellan’s sway, Hooker was able to discern where the real power of advancement was and sided with the Republicans. This gained him a long-term ally that stuck with him through thick and thin, seeing him rise to command the Army of the Potomac but also sticking by him after his defeat at Chancellorsville.
For the general worst at playing politics, George H. Thomas might take the title. As the saying goes, “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” By refusing to play the politics game, Thomas lost it by default. While his command skills ensured that he was not totally sidelined, one can only speculate how much further he would have advanced if he was willing to engage more in the politics of command.
I want to look at this question from the Confederate point of view. By far, the best, from either side, for playing politics and getting his way with his political superiors was The Master, Robert E. Lee. He knew how to communicate with Jeff Davis and almost without exception, got his way. The worst was Joe Johnston. You talk about someone who was completely tone deaf to his political superiors to the point of ignoring them and leaving them in the dark about what his plans were.
Best. Robert E. Lee. Lee knew how to handle the prickly Jefferson Davis. Lee always kept Davis informed, which he must have known was important to Davis after watching how Joe Johnston had failed to do so before abandoning the Manassas area and later falling back to the outskirts of Richmond (both to Davis’s surprise). Lee treated Davis with courtesy and deference, yet knew how to get what he wanted out of Davis (usually). Lee built an important relationship based on trust and respect, which certainly helped him being permitted to embark – for better or worse – on his two major Northward offensives.
Worst. Joe Johnston. Johnston was the anti-Lee (or the “evil Spock” if you are a Star Trek fan). Johnston repeatedly failed to keep Davis informed, leading to Davis becoming upset with unforeseen actions (see above). Early in their relationship he penned an ill-advised, insubordinate, letter bitterly attacking Davis over an issue of rank. Bad politics. While recovering from his Seven Pines wounding, he cavorted with Davis’s political enemies. More bad politics. In the West, he repeatedly sparred with Davis over blame for Vickburg’s fall. The poisonous relationship (Mary Chestnut wrote ‘[Johnston’s] hatred of Davis amounts to a religion.”) impacted military affairs. All because Johnston did not know, or perhaps care, how to play politics with his superior.
(Dis)honorable Mention. Fitz John Porter. From sending an ill-advised letter calling his soon to be superior officer, John Pope, “an ass” (a letter that ended up with both Lincoln and Pope), to sending a series of telegrams on army wires before Second Manassas that included multiple sarcastic attacks on Pope while expressing hope that his friend McClellan’s star was again on the rise, Porter’s style of playing politics in support of McClellan only ended up casting suspicion on Porter that he wanted Pope to fail in battle. This helped lead to his conviction by court martial and cashiering from the army.
Which Civil War generals were the best and worst at playing politics?
McClellan was best at politics, hands down. He did run for president, after all. But probably his greatest contribution was winning western Virginia over to the Union side. If he hadn’t been so politically adept in that first 3-month campaign, things could have been far worse. In other words, someone like Pope would probably have chased the whole region into supporting secession and any Union army would’ve been faced with nasty guerrilla warfare instead of a friendly population, the Restored Government, and local recruits.
Best- US Grant….He became President.
Worst-McClellan…Removed as commander of the AoP, and lost when he ran for President.
Dan Sickles! Mr “temporary insanity “ himself!
Daniel Sickles!
If this is expanded to office or army politics, instead of just partisan politics, Grant was very good at office politics given his rapid rise. On the other hand, GK Warren lost a promising career due to a failure to master office politics.
For the general best at playing politics, there is a strong case to be made for Joseph Hooker. When many officers in the Army of the Potomac fell under McClellan’s sway, Hooker was able to discern where the real power of advancement was and sided with the Republicans. This gained him a long-term ally that stuck with him through thick and thin, seeing him rise to command the Army of the Potomac but also sticking by him after his defeat at Chancellorsville.
For the general worst at playing politics, George H. Thomas might take the title. As the saying goes, “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” By refusing to play the politics game, Thomas lost it by default. While his command skills ensured that he was not totally sidelined, one can only speculate how much further he would have advanced if he was willing to engage more in the politics of command.
I want to look at this question from the Confederate point of view. By far, the best, from either side, for playing politics and getting his way with his political superiors was The Master, Robert E. Lee. He knew how to communicate with Jeff Davis and almost without exception, got his way. The worst was Joe Johnston. You talk about someone who was completely tone deaf to his political superiors to the point of ignoring them and leaving them in the dark about what his plans were.
Best. Robert E. Lee. Lee knew how to handle the prickly Jefferson Davis. Lee always kept Davis informed, which he must have known was important to Davis after watching how Joe Johnston had failed to do so before abandoning the Manassas area and later falling back to the outskirts of Richmond (both to Davis’s surprise). Lee treated Davis with courtesy and deference, yet knew how to get what he wanted out of Davis (usually). Lee built an important relationship based on trust and respect, which certainly helped him being permitted to embark – for better or worse – on his two major Northward offensives.
Worst. Joe Johnston. Johnston was the anti-Lee (or the “evil Spock” if you are a Star Trek fan). Johnston repeatedly failed to keep Davis informed, leading to Davis becoming upset with unforeseen actions (see above). Early in their relationship he penned an ill-advised, insubordinate, letter bitterly attacking Davis over an issue of rank. Bad politics. While recovering from his Seven Pines wounding, he cavorted with Davis’s political enemies. More bad politics. In the West, he repeatedly sparred with Davis over blame for Vickburg’s fall. The poisonous relationship (Mary Chestnut wrote ‘[Johnston’s] hatred of Davis amounts to a religion.”) impacted military affairs. All because Johnston did not know, or perhaps care, how to play politics with his superior.
(Dis)honorable Mention. Fitz John Porter. From sending an ill-advised letter calling his soon to be superior officer, John Pope, “an ass” (a letter that ended up with both Lincoln and Pope), to sending a series of telegrams on army wires before Second Manassas that included multiple sarcastic attacks on Pope while expressing hope that his friend McClellan’s star was again on the rise, Porter’s style of playing politics in support of McClellan only ended up casting suspicion on Porter that he wanted Pope to fail in battle. This helped lead to his conviction by court martial and cashiering from the army.
Among the army commanders, and higher: Grant and Lee the best, Rosecrans and Joe Johnston the worst.