Ranking of U.S. Presidents by historians

[Bilge_Rat]

Originally Posted by UnderseaLcpl

1) There was no Union general that cost as many lives as Grant did, so while they may have been just as incompetent, they were not as bloody-handed
2) Are you seriously going to make an argument in defense of Grant? As a military man? I mean, really? Do you have any WW1 French or British generals you'd like to nominate while you're at it?

Grant's reputation as a "Butcher" was undeserved, he was one of the best general ever produced by the USA. His big problem is that he is always compared with Robert E. Lee who was the best general ever to come out of the USA. Its the same problem Andy Roddick has...

His 1863 campaign was a masterpiece of generalship, utilising misdirection, combined arms and bold planning to outmaneuver and bottle up a Rebel army in Vicksburg.

In the 1864 campaign, he was always trying to outmaneuver and outflank Lee. His problem was that the Union generals in the Army of the Potomac always moved a bit slower and with a bit less determination than Lee's generals. Even when he did steal a march on Lee and landed a Corps in front of an undefended Petersburg, the General in charge completely bungled the attack.

In 1865, after he had reorganized the Army and put in his own men, he was able to cut off and bottle up the Army of Northern Virginia in 10 days, leaving Lee with no option but surrender.