Who were the best generals of the war?
A common myth is that the South had superior military talent. An objective assessment reveals that both sides had their fair share of fine generals and lousy ones [See Generals]. On the Confederate side, Robert E. Lee is considered the best. He was unsurpassed in his ability to get the most out of his men in extraordinarily difficult circumstances; and he had an uncanny ability to size up opposing generals, and to mystify and intimidate them, enabling him to defeat stronger adversaries. With his engineering background he could construct impenetrable defenses while pinpointing the weaknesses in enemy lines; and he was a master of tactical sleight of hand (dividing his army, bluffing, concealing his weaknesses, catching his enemy off-guard). Lee had his faults as a commander: chief among them was his tendency to issue imprecise and discretionary orders. Also, some historians think Lee was a great tactician but a poor strategist (e.g., invading Maryland in 1862 and Pennsylvania in 1863; o
