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Civil War Interactive Discussion Board > Civil War Talk > The People of the Civil War > Joseph Johnston-A Great Civil War General? |
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Civil War Interactive Discussion Board > Civil War Talk > The People of the Civil War > Joseph Johnston-A Great Civil War General? |
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| Moderated by: javal1 |
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| Joseph Johnston-A Great Civil War General? | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Sat Jul 18th, 2009 01:28 pm |
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1st Post |
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Naim Peress Member
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I read in the Civil War Interactive a description of Johnston as a great Civil War general. I think the facts do not bear up to this characterization. It took Lee to fix the mess during McClellan's Peninsular campaign. I also think the fall of Vicksburg was largely due to Johnston's unwillingness to relieve Pemberton. What do you think?
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| Posted: Sun Jul 19th, 2009 12:03 am |
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2nd Post |
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ole Member 
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I wouldn't say he was the worst, but he will do until that one comes along. Ole
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| Posted: Sun Jul 19th, 2009 05:03 pm |
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3rd Post |
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Naim Peress Member
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Well, I would say Ambrose Burnside competed for that title.
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| Posted: Mon Jul 20th, 2009 07:25 am |
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4th Post |
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Johan Steele Life NRA,SUVCW # 48,Legion 352 
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He was the best CS commanding general in the West and frankly he was the best the CS had after Lee. Look at his peers in the CS, the reality IMO is that only Lee beats him out. That said I don't think the CS had a big pool of good commanding generals to choose from.
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| Posted: Tue Jul 21st, 2009 12:48 pm |
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5th Post |
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Naim Peress Member
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If you mean senior commanders, then perhaps you're right. However, there were AP Hill, Stonewall, Albert Sidney Johnston. Perhaps those guys could have been promoted before they died. These are what-ifs, of course.
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| Posted: Tue Jul 21st, 2009 01:39 pm |
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6th Post |
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javal1 Grumpy Geezer 
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"....AP Hill, Stonewall, Albert Sidney Johnston. Perhaps those guys could have been promoted before they died." What is it that ASJ did that would have earned him a promotion? Demotion I could understand, but promotion...not in my opinion.
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| Posted: Tue Jul 21st, 2009 03:47 pm |
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7th Post |
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barrydancer Member 
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Plus, Albert S. Johnston was already a full general. He couldn't really have been promoted any further.  That being said, I think Joseph Johnston was quite good.
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| Posted: Tue Jul 21st, 2009 10:04 pm |
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8th Post |
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TimK Member
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I hate "what ifs". I have a hard enough time keeping track of facts. The infinite possibilities caused from one action would fill up too much of what limited brain space I have. However, contrary to what I just said, I often wonder what would have been at Shiloh and beyond had AS Johnston not taken that (possibly friendly) shot to the back of the knee. I have the feeling that he would have tightened up his role and become the general Davis thought he could be. I can only guess that he would see that the way he delegated wasn't working and taken more control of situations. Of course, I'll never know, and therefore should concentrate my thoughts on what actually happened. Sorry to take this thread from one Johnston to another.
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| Posted: Wed Jul 22nd, 2009 12:22 am |
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9th Post |
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Naim Peress Member
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I'd be curious to know why you feel that way. He carried out P.T. Beauregard's orders rather competantly at Shiloh and showed great personal courage when he led that charge that led to his death.
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| Posted: Wed Jul 22nd, 2009 12:24 am |
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10th Post |
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Naim Peress Member
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Why do you think he was good? I'm interested to know.
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| Posted: Wed Jul 22nd, 2009 01:39 am |
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11th Post |
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javal1 Grumpy Geezer
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ASJ was not supposed to be carrying out PGB's orders. Johnston was superior - it was supposed to be the other way around. ASJ was a weak commander, more content to hand off his responsibilities to others.
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| Posted: Wed Jul 22nd, 2009 01:51 am |
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12th Post |
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barrydancer Member
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A.S. Johnston was the commanding general at Shiloh, and for most of the Confederate west. While we can argue as to who was actually directing the campaign, it was Johnston who was technically in charge. Javal is correct, though. I think ASJ let Beauregard overpower him. Much of ASJ's fame comes from him being fortunate enough to die in battle, while the day was still going fairly swimmingly for the Confederates. Hence the "If Johnston had lived" school of thought as to the end of the first day at Shiloh. As for Joe Johnston, I honestly haven't studies him much. Longstreet thought he was superb, however, and that's good enough for me.  Last edited on Wed Jul 22nd, 2009 01:54 am by barrydancer |
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| Civil War Interactive Discussion Board > Civil War Talk > The People of the Civil War > Joseph Johnston-A Great Civil War General? | Top |
