Essential analysis of the stories shaping geopolitics on the continent. Overseas during World War II he had limited line duty (16 months of battalion command, then 13 months in staff positions) and of 14 months of command during the Korean War and its immediate aftermath he spent eight months in reserve in Japan and only six months in Korea, and that during the mostly static final months of the war. How well that would have worked can be seen when Gates was sent to command American troops in the South. But the rash advance into North Korea was a blunder of strategic proportions. Disobeying orders, he sailed for Cdiz instead of the Channel, allowing Nelsons fleet time to return and effectively scuttling Napoleons plans for a cross-Channel invasion. The Legion numbers XVII, XVIII and XIX never again appeared in the Roman Armys order of battle due to the shame and ill luck they carried. He thought he could take over the war from the South Vietnamese, bring it to a successful conclusion, and then hand their country back to them and go home in triumph. In the autumn of 1804 he was placed in charge of the French fleet at Toulon and tasked with drawing the British fleet under Horatio Nelson to the Caribbean. In fifteen thought-provoking essays, each written by a professional military historian, readers are introduced . And how might that be impacting the world? Santa Anna, a lifetime gambler, was known for his risk taking in battle, but also his brutality. Have your boss report to the French gentleman whose name begins with J at a place which begins with D which is five grid squares to the left of M. The Kasserine disaster had repercussions. In a war that saw more than its share of unskilled politically appointed generals, Pillow was arguably the worst on either side. Only recently have those in the defense and military complex begun to look at how we rate generals. Under Westmorelands command, the Vietnam war began smoothly as the U.S. won every battle. But in 1968, when Westmoreland became Army Chief of Staff, Communist forces baited Westmoreland into committing nearly 40% of his strength to the military outpost at Khe Sanh, then attacked cities and towns throughout South Vietnam. The Soviets saw the American humiliation in Vietnam as a turning point. Many of the charges leveled against him have also been laid at the feet of . The Romans lost an estimated 80,000 infantry and perhaps 40,000 auxiliaries and cavalry, numbers that dwarf the staggering totals at Cannae. Whatever its military wisdom or lack thereof, it was a decision that should not have been made by generals under the American political system. Two years later, he lost a leg fighting the French. On the other hand, there was that bad day at the Battle of Salamis when most of the Persian fleet went to the bottom. His was one of just two French ships of the line to escape the destruction of the French fleet there. He overestimated the American peoples patience and tolerance of friendly losses. Nearly as many men died in captivity during the Civil War as were killed in the whole of the Vietnam War. Yes, Westmoreland was the general who lost Vietnam. James K. Polk. Francisco Solano Lpez managed to stumble into a war with pretty much all of that. World War I provided a forum for any number of truly horrible commanders to assert themselves. Armchair historians often generalize that during the American Civil War, while the Union held a clear advantage in material, the Confederacy could field superior commanders. Then, in an ill-advised comeback, he met his Waterloo. General and presidential candidate Douglas MacArthur (1880 - 1964) at his headquarters in Yokohama, Japan with US Lieutenant General Jonathan Wainwright (1883 - 1953) (right), and British Lieutenant-General A E Percival (1887 - 1966) (left) who were taken prisoner by the Japanese after the US retreat in the Bataan peninsula and released in 1945. Pillow suffered slightly more casualties than Grant in the engagement, which possibly makes the Battle of Belmont the high point of Pillows military career. Westmorelands own book about himself gives some indication of how he would react to this more recent one. Fifty years ago today, President Lyndon Baines Johnson announced his fateful decision to double the number of U.S. troops in Vietnam. In 1975, when the Vietnam War ended, the Vietnamese army had only 36 generals, but by 2018, peace-time Vietnam had 415 military officers holding general ranks. He first demonstrated his ineptitude during the Mexican-American War, where he had received an appointment to the rank of major general from his friend Pres. Lebanon (1982-1984) 240. The 5 Worst Generals in U.S. History. Advancing to the North Korean border with China also was a red flag for Mao-Tse Tung, who feared that American troops on his border were a prelude to U.S. invasion. He effectively pledged to become an agent for the U.S. but found that he had been deposed upon his return to Mexico. Military How the North Vietnamese remember the conflict 40 years after the fall of Saigon. This infuriated the Marines, who viewed it as evidence that Westmoreland lacked confidence in them. Grachev has also been linked to corruption among the higher ranks of the military, specifically the assassination of journalist Dmitry Kholodov. The Texans only suffered 2 casualties, as opposed to hundreds of Mexican casualties. However, not even they managed to get themselves court-martialed and sentenced to death for ineptitude on the battlefield. Hull had served with distinction in the Revolutionary War and was appointed governor of the Michigan Territory in 1805. Many of these generals had their worst defeats when their countries were least prepared for conflict, such as the hapless Soviet generals who faced the German infiltration of Russia in 1941. He was certainly nave, but the Boy Scouts need to be defended here. Others would say that it is not victory, but success in fulfilling a mission that counts. The Germanic fighters demolished the three Roman legions. Alexander, Napoleon, Rommel. Saul David reviews a surprising study of military failure and names his own five most infamous generals Saul David Thursday February 17 2022, 12.00am , The Times When the War of 1812 began, Hull was commissioned a brigadier general and tasked with defending Michigan and invading Upper Canada. 4. What is the standard of shame for induction? The Roman Empire has a long, proud tradition of producing some of the finest generals in human history- and just as many of the worst. War is an extension of politics, and if commanders dont help secure the desired political ends, they get a failing grade. More ways to stay updated on global news: By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. But with that kind of advantage in troops and firepower, who wouldnt? But its not just the United States. In 1940, after increasing pressure from dictator Benito Mussolini and facing demotion, Graziani followed orders and invaded Egypt with his Tenth Army. His work as an observer during the Crimean War gave him insight into the importance of logistics for an industrialized army, and years spent as the chief of engineering for the Illinois Central Railroad made him aware of the transformative nature of rail transport. 9. In 1847, U.S. troops once again surprised Santa Anna and captured his prosthetic leg. Loyalty to himself and himself alone would be something of a running theme in the narrative of Santa Annas life, and his rise to power in Mexico was characterized by near-constant vacillation and betrayal of his allies. General Westmoreland had complete freedom of action in deciding how to prosecute the war within South Vietnam. Others were experienced military men who should have known better than to take the risks they took - or not take the risks they should have. He was found guilty of 11 counts, and only the intervention by Pres. McClellan truly disappointed president Lincoln at the Battle of Antietam where the North and South would fight the bloodiest battle of the war. What does that mean for trade and globalization? Delivered Thursday. The world over, countries are embarking on ambitious projects of industrial policy. 2. And, to further demonstrate progress in reducing enemy strength, Westmoreland arbitrarily and entirely on his own removed from the order of battle several categories of enemy forces that had long been carried there, including during the three years Westmoreland had already been in command of U.S. forces in Vietnam. Because he never wanted to face a superior force, he refused to fight. During the darkest days of the rebellion, when Washington's army had been kicked out of New York and King George's star seemed ascendant, the "Conway cabal" of disgruntled officers and politicians unsuccessfully schemed to out Washington and appoint Gates. After only an eight-day siege, he surrendered his entire armya third of all British forces in America. Follow him on Twitter:@Mipeck1. Quintus Servilius Caepio takes the cake amongst the worst Roman generals ever to take command of a legion though. To accomplish this goal, Vietnam employs repressive policies that often contravene international human rights law. But its not just the United States. On a visit to Vietnam Senator Hollings from Westmorelands home state of South Carolina was told by Westmoreland: Were killing these people, the enemy, at a ratio of 10 to 1. Said Hollings, Westy, the American people dont care about the ten. Pillow escaped during the night, leaving Simon B. Buckner to surrender the fort and 15,000 Confederate troops. He was called the "inevitable general." A West Point graduate, he served in World War II and Korea. Born in 1901 in Quang Binh Province (part of North Vietnam), Diem was the son of a well-educated mandarin (Vietnamese civil servant who took part in running the country) who served as the Minister of Rites and Grand Chamberlain to Emperor Thanh-Thai (1889-1907). 6. And the number one reason why Westmoreland lost the war in Vietnam: With his unavailing approach to conduct of the war he squandered four years of support by much of the American people, the Congress, and even the media. Westmoreland: The General Who Lost Vietnam, by Lewis Sorley, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2011. . Soon after declaring himself dictator of Mexico, rebels who opposed the Mexican dictatorship created three new republics, one of them being the Republic of Texas. He continued on to suffer defeats at Spion Kop and Vaal Krantz, almost letting the war slip away from the British. 3. Along with Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, Montgomery is the most celebrated of British generals and had the ego to match, or even exceed, his reputation. 92. This is, obviously, a problematic quality when ones title is general-in-chief of the entire Union army. Yes, the landing at Inchon unhinged the initial North Korean offensive. But his crowning achievement was bad generalship in Korea. Had Lincoln retained McClellan in command of the Union armies, many former Americans might still be whistling "Dixie.". Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security. Read More. Along with Communist China and other Communist movements in the region, who were fighting to reunite the Vietnams under the red banner, there were other belligerent, free countries in the region who had an interest in keeping South Vietnam away from the Commies. With high hopes set upon his shoulders at the beginning of the American Civil war, quickly becoming General-in-Chief of the Union Army, McClellan would earn the distinction as a general of little action. Westmoreland: The General Who Lost Vietnam, Chinas Censors Are Afraid of What Chatbots Might Say, The U.S. Lee demonstrated an immediate grasp of McClellans demeanor, and, during the Seven Days Battles (June 25July 1, 1862), Lee drove back the Union armies from Richmonds doorstep. What he did not divulge publicly was that the United States. Instead he simply sent more and more replacements to make up his losses. Lyndon Johnson had no understanding of military affairs whatever, nor did Robert McNamara. Heres the inaugural class: 6. Vice President, Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute. Hundreds of thousands died of disease. in history from Michigan State University in 1995. It is probably not a coincidence that corruption in the military appears to have escalated since 2006, when the number of military generals started to jump sharply. All related (37) Sort Recommended Doug Szabo Author has 972 answers and 137.7K answer views Nov 27 My vote goes to adm Otto Zumwalt. Publication of the PROVN Study, whose precepts were later implemented with great success by Westmorelands successor, illustrated a matter of fundamental importance. There's an entire myriad of generals from the American Civil War that fought for the Union that were incredibly inept. He was called the inevitable general. A West Point graduate, he served in World War II and Korea. The Summer 2023 term begins June 1, 2023 and ends August 24, 2023. Click + to receive email alerts when new stories are published on This was true in matters both great and small. This strategy inevitably failed as the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong maintained control over how the war was fought which was through guerilla warfare. Some captured Romans were placed in wicker cages and burned alive, others were enslaved or ransomed. Varus trust in Arminius was an obvious and terrible misjudgment. Seriously, who represents The British Empire; had the worlds greatest navy, enough cash to hire half the mercenaries of Europe, and the advantage of having a pretty pathetic-looking foe: a rag-tag army of ill-equipped rebels. 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Ultimately, he was denied his final showdown with the Allies by German political leaders who realized that the Americans could produce soldiers faster than Germany could produce bullets. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, consult individual encyclopedia entries about the topics. By Lewis Sorley Best Defense Saigon bureau chief. - 4 Worst: 1990 Cleveland Cavaliers. Hull was thoroughly outclassed. After his defeat by the Texans at the Battle of San Jacinto, Santa Anna was captured. He was killed in combat on March 1, 1870. He retreated to Malta but was captured when that island fell to the British. Dispatched to India, he led campaigns to help subdue the subcontinent, replacing the crown jewel he had lost. HANOI, VIETNAMForty years ago, on April 30, 1975, Nguyen Dang Phat experienced the happiest day of his life . As a military commander, Napoleon may have thebest batting averageof all time. Ulysses S. Grant made his Civil War debut at the Battle of Belmont against Confederate Gen. Gideon Pillow. What will another year of war look like? From Kaiser Wilhelm to Hitler and Saddam Hussein and Gadhafi, there is no end of national leaders who squandered their nations blood and treasure in futile conflicts. Cue the protests from other parts of the globe: A chorus of nations are accusing Washington of fostering unfair competition. That may have been true in the east (the worst of the Union generals in that theater rates his own entry on this list), but in the west it was a much different affair. Thats an automatic disqualification from Hall membership. Overseas during World War II he had limited line duty (16 months of battalion command, then 13 months in staff positions) and of 14 months of command during the Korean War and its immediate aftermath he spent eight months in reserve in Japan and only six months in Korea, and that during the mostly static final months of the war. Some historians are a little more sympathetic towards Percivals legacy nowadays arguing that Percival had been dealt an unusually bad hand. The Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Memorial LectureThomas E. Ricks is a Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). Here are five of America's worst generals: Great generals have great talents, and usually egos and ambitions to match. Army Chief of Staff General Harold K. Johnson put one forth in the PROVN Study, a Program for the Pacification and Long-Term Development of Vietnam. That document held that Westmorelands approach was not working and could not work because it ignored the real war in South Vietnams hamlets and villages, where the covert enemy infrastructure was through coercion and terror dominating the rural populace. He called for bombing China, as if liberating Korea was worth risking 550 million Chinese and possibly war with Russia as well. Ludendorff is one of historys greatest examples of a general who can win battles but still loses the war. Yet Fredendall's solution was to order an Army engineer company to build a giant bunker a hundred miles from the front lines. 15. Cue the protests from other parts of the globe: A chorus of nations are accusing Washington of fostering unfair competition. While Maximus was conducting negotiations with the Cimbri, a Germanic tribe that had invaded the Roman province of Transalpine Gaul, Caepio rashly attacked the Cimbri army on October 6, 105 BCE. Following on from our list of the greatest and most successful military commanders, we are presenting this list of the worst. In 1847, U.S. troops once again surprised Santa Anna and captured his prosthetic leg. What can we glean from the current state of play on the battlefield? In 1941, Graziani resigned his commission after the British counterattacked and the Tenth Army was completely defeated during Operation Compass. The Worst Civil War Generals on the Confederacy Confederate Maj. Gen. Gideon Pillow. In other words, this book is a "how-not-to" guide to leadership. There are a number of contenders for the top places on such a roster. If there was a saving grace for America, it was that he wasn't commanding an army. But the worst of all was McClellan, the so-called "Young Napoleon" from whom Lincoln. Fighter Aircraft of All Time). 8. Sorley skillfully uses Westmoreland's own words to show time and again his duplicity at worst and his lack of touch with reality at best. Not until 1995 did Vietnam release its official estimate of war dead: as many as 2 million civilians on both sides and some 1.1 million North Vietnamese and Viet Cong fighters. Sun Wu Sun Zi, or Sun Tzu, was a prominent military general during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) who is always regarded as one of the greatest military strategists in China and even the World. After early success in the Mexican War for Independence, the rest of his career didnt pan out the way he would have liked. Despite the Union outnumbering the Confederates, McClellan was unable to crush Robert E. Lee after failing to pursue him into Virginia. The American Civil War was a factory for producing bad generals such as Braxton Bragg and Ambrose Burnside. After making a laughingstock of himself by ordering his men to entrench on the wrong side of fortifications at Camargo, Pillow bungled his role at the Battle of Cerro Gordo, making himself the low point of a resounding American victory. After only 10 weeks into the Pacific War, Percival became responsible for the largest surrender of British-led forces in history. The next major British offensive came at Passchendaele (July 31November 6, 1917), where Haig lost another 275,000 troops in a battle whose name became synonymous with pointless slaughter.