People who look like a dashing officer, who have political connections, and maybe even have organizational skills, naturally rise to the top during peace time. Unfortunately, it is likewise impossible to know who can fight, and win battles. J.F.C. Fuller wrote my favorite book on Grant.
Between the way he fought the battle and coordinated with the gunboats as he would do in future operations, Grant showed himself as America's first modern general. The decision to land his troops the night before the attack was indeed smart as Washington did the same thing to surprise the Hessians at Trenton in December 1776. The big difference being Washington defeated them whilst Grant had initial success but was then driven back. Something to consider is that while Grant is defined as being the first modern general, over in Europe, there was also Moltke, the big advocate and practitioner of Auftragstactik, allowing subordinates and lower ranking officers to take initiative and make decisions on the battlefield to achieve victory which enabled him to command army groups larger than what Grant commanded, plus he was the world's first modern chief of staff. When Grant was posthumously promoted to General of the Armies two years ago, between the way he fought battles, coordinated across multiple theaters and with other branches of the military in the modern fashion which reunited the country, he more than earned it!
100% agree, he was ahead of his time as a tactician. As commanded, he did his job at Belmont, learning a lesson or two along the way. I’ll need to study more about Moltke and Auftragstactik. Any book recommendations? I’ll add them to my summer reading list.
@@maddhattalscivilwarhistory2728 You're welcome! There are a number of books out there such as Moltke and his Generals: A Study of Leadership, Moltke and the German Wars, among others. There is a lot of information out there regarding the German Unification Wars and how the German General Staff worked.
The USS Lexington was a great ship and did the country a great service that is under appreciated it even captured the confederate iron clad Uss East port
People who look like a dashing officer, who have political connections, and maybe even have organizational skills, naturally rise to the top during peace time. Unfortunately, it is likewise impossible to know who can fight, and win battles. J.F.C. Fuller wrote my favorite book on Grant.
Sherman is a perfect example! Love Fuller's book!
Between the way he fought the battle and coordinated with the gunboats as he would do in future operations, Grant showed himself as America's first modern general. The decision to land his troops the night before the attack was indeed smart as Washington did the same thing to surprise the Hessians at Trenton in December 1776. The big difference being Washington defeated them whilst Grant had initial success but was then driven back. Something to consider is that while Grant is defined as being the first modern general, over in Europe, there was also Moltke, the big advocate and practitioner of Auftragstactik, allowing subordinates and lower ranking officers to take initiative and make decisions on the battlefield to achieve victory which enabled him to command army groups larger than what Grant commanded, plus he was the world's first modern chief of staff. When Grant was posthumously promoted to General of the Armies two years ago, between the way he fought battles, coordinated across multiple theaters and with other branches of the military in the modern fashion which reunited the country, he more than earned it!
100% agree, he was ahead of his time as a tactician. As commanded, he did his job at Belmont, learning a lesson or two along the way. I’ll need to study more about Moltke and Auftragstactik. Any book recommendations? I’ll add them to my summer reading list.
@@maddhattalscivilwarhistory2728 You're welcome! There are a number of books out there such as Moltke and his Generals: A Study of Leadership, Moltke and the German Wars, among others. There is a lot of information out there regarding the German Unification Wars and how the German General Staff worked.
The USS Lexington was a great ship and did the country a great service that is under appreciated it even captured the confederate iron clad Uss East port
And it has a long lineage!