Best Use of Butler & Sigel in 1864?

Joshism

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Given the seniority, abilities, and political considerations of Benjamin Butler and Franz Sigel what was the best use for them in 1864?

Put yourself in Grant's shoes in March-April 1864. He lacks confidence in these generals (for good reason), but can't sideline them entirely. You've only got the Major Generals available that Grant did as alternatives (no time to promote anyone else), but assume Lincoln is willing to shift them somewhere else provided it's an appropriate command for their rank and a satisfactory replacement is made. Keep in mind seniority issues in terms of who they report to, so you can't just shunt them off to a random division where they have seniority over their corps and army/department commanders.
 

Joshism

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Just to throw out one idea: maybe put one of them in charge of Missouri?
 

5fish

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Given the seniority, abilities, and political considerations of Benjamin Butler and Franz Sigel what was the best use for them in 1864?
General William Franklin... Grant wanted him for the Shenandoah valley campaign originally...

Thomas Leonidas Crittenden ... He led Division from Spotsylvania tell Dec 1864...
 

5fish

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Crittenden was incredibly mediocre in the West, underscored by his utterly forgettable stint with the IX Corps in 1864.
The question was he better than Butler or Sigel... His record was not that bad until Chickamauga when he and McCook become the scapegoats for the battle...

http://www.horsesoldier.com/products/photography/cdvs/identified-cdvs/25206

When Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans assumed command of the army, Crittenden's forces were re-designated the Left Wing of the Army of the Cumberland and were heavily engaged at the Battle of Stones River. The Army of the Cumberland was again reorganized and Crittenden's corps was again renamed, this time the XXI Corps. He led the corps through the Tullahoma Campaign and at Chickamauga. Crittenden and fellow corps commander Alexander McDowell McCook were blamed for the defeat and relieved of command, but both were later exonerated and acquitted of any charges.

General Crittenden was chosen to take command of the 1st Division, IX Corps. He assumed command on May 12 and led it during the final days of Spotsylvania and through the Battle of Cold Harbor, before resigning on December 13, 1864.

Crittenden was admitted to the bar and served in the United States Army during Mexican War as a volunteer aide to General Zachary Taylor and as lieutenant colonel of the 3rd Kentucky Volunteer Infantry from 1847 to 1848. After the war's end he served as U.S. consul in Liverpool.

When the Civil War began in 1861, Crittenden and his father remained loyal to the Union, but his brother joined the Confederate Army, a common occurrence in the Border States. Crittenden had been a major general in the Kentucky militia since 1860. He was appointed brigadier general of volunteers in September and placed in command of the 5th Division in the Army of the Ohio. He led the division at the Battle of Shiloh in 1862. After Shiloh he was appointed major general of volunteers and commanded the II Corps in the Army of the Ohio during the Perryville Campaign although his corps was only lightly engaged in the fighting.

I do not see where your criticism is warranted... !!!






 
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