American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

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Gen. Blake Strickler
Confederate General-in-Chief
El Presidente 2010 - 2012

I'm not sure what Detzer's definition of "expert" entails, but from a tactical standpoint, I would say Hardee. His "expertise" benefited him little, however.

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MG Robert Frost

I believe it would have to be an old general from the Mexican War as the others listed were only known in the army circles. You cannot leave G.B. McClellan off the list. He served well in the previous war and was sent to Europe to observe the Crimean War for the army. He also invented a rather famous saddle for the military before the Civil War and published his reflections on the European war.

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Gen. Mitch Johnson
GENERAL IN CHIEF

The author wrote "1861" and I am guessing he meant before Bull Run. But taken as a whole the second most famous military expert by the end of 1861 would have to be Pierre Beauregard after taking Sumter and winning at Bull Run. Pre-Sumter I don't think an answer exists but I lean towards Albert Johnston as the commander of the most famous unit in the US Army at that point.

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Gen. Steve Griffith


Army of Northern Virginia Commander

I guess Davis could be considered a military expert due to his West Point and Mexican War background. The "famous" part probably stems from his service as secretary of war under President Franklin Pierce.

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MG Mike Mihalik
Forrest's Cavalry Corps
AoWest/CSA

Davis was a capable commander and showed his skills in the Mexican-American War. Although Commander-in-Chief of the CSA, he was smart enough to leave the military decisions to his generals, like Lee. Lee, of course, had a spotless record at West Point; Davis, not so. Davis was court-martialed during his first year at West Point ("He capped it off that summer by managing to get himself court-martialled for being caught - visibly intoxiated, it might be added - inside Benny Haven's tavern, a notorious local dive that was strictly off limits to cadets." Woodworth, S.E.). During his second year he was placed under arrest for his part in the Eggnog Riot (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eggnog_riot) although no charges were filed against him on that occasion.

I can't defend the claim that "Jefferson Davis was America's most famous military expert [after Scott]". That just doesn't seem right in view of the way Lee, and others, were regarded at the time. Still, I regard Davis as a man of high intelligence. His The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government (https://www.gutenberg.org/files/19831/19831-h/19831-h.htm) remains the most cogent argument I have seen to explain succession. It's also interesting to see the main events of the war written from his unique perspective. 51% gave it 4/5 or 5/5 in reviews on goodreads (16% gave it 1 or 2).

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Paul Swanson
Lieutenant-General
First Division
First Corps
Army of Northern Virginia