...ones would you choose? For me, Lee and Grant for certain. Lee didn't leave a personal memoir, Grant did. We know Lee a little from his writings. Other choices, James Longstreet (CSA), Joshua L. Chamberlain (USA), Jeb Stuart (CSA), William T. Sherman (USA).
Most of these gentlemen liked to visit over a glass of sippin' whiskey and a cigar. Who would you like to do some sippin' and smokin' with? (Or maybe just let them do the sippin' and smokin' while you ask a few questions and listen to their answers?)
Several of the most effective Union generals were not West Pointers. Notable example--Chamberlain, a professor of rhetoric in Maine who felt compelled to join the militia at the beginning of the war. Outstanding field commander, one of the brighter stars at Gettysburg. Approved by Grant for promotion later when it was thought he was mortally wounded. Finished the war as a major general and went on later to become governor of Maine.
Many Union militia senior officers were political hacks. Quite a few Southern senior officers were graduates not of West Point, but of Virginia Military Institute.
Both Lee and Grant were described as kind and caring men, although Grant was much criticized over the high casualties during the Peninsula campaign. He later admitted the casualties were much too high.
Most of these gentlemen liked to visit over a glass of sippin' whiskey and a cigar. Who would you like to do some sippin' and smokin' with? (Or maybe just let them do the sippin' and smokin' while you ask a few questions and listen to their answers?)
Several of the most effective Union generals were not West Pointers. Notable example--Chamberlain, a professor of rhetoric in Maine who felt compelled to join the militia at the beginning of the war. Outstanding field commander, one of the brighter stars at Gettysburg. Approved by Grant for promotion later when it was thought he was mortally wounded. Finished the war as a major general and went on later to become governor of Maine.
Many Union militia senior officers were political hacks. Quite a few Southern senior officers were graduates not of West Point, but of Virginia Military Institute.
Both Lee and Grant were described as kind and caring men, although Grant was much criticized over the high casualties during the Peninsula campaign. He later admitted the casualties were much too high.