Overrated/Underrated

[marc]

Non-presidential version. We've rated presidents in the past, and if anyone who wasn't here then wants to get in on that, I'll bump the thread. So what about non-presidents?

Some of mine:

Americans:

Underrated:

W.S. Hancock. CW General, presidential candidate. Possibly the most capable Union general this side of Grant and Sherman. His positioning of troops was responsible for the victory at Gettysburg. McClellan, iirc, called him "Superb" even in defeat. Yet few Americans know his name.

Andrew Lewis One of Washington's most trusted officers in the French and Indian War and later at the start of the Revolution. His expedition against Cornstalk at Pt. Pleasant opened up the Ohio Valley, although he lost his brother and thought the incident was set up by Virginia's Royal Governor Lord Dunmore, who was supposed to meet him with troops. Lewis told his friend Jefferson about this, and it's possible that Jefferson alluded to it in the Declaration (he did write about it in Notes on the State of Virginia.) Lewis held a grudge against Dunmore and led troops against him when the Revolution broke out, driving him out of Virginia. Texts in WV, Kentucky, and Tennessee all mention Lewis' importance.

Frederick Douglass Just a brilliant man. A one-man refutation of the notion that blacks were genetically inferior. I've never read anything he wrote without being genuinely moved.

I would mention Tesla, but he's too popular a choice these days. Still likely underrated, though.

I'll add more later.

Overrated:

General Robert E. Lee (gasp!) An overall good guy, but many of his actions were questionable, particularly at Gettysburg, and some wonder if his heart wasn't completely in it. He was a great general, but perhaps his reputation exceeds the reality.

Patrick Henry Just my personal opinion, but he comes across as a bit of a grouch who didn't play well with others. Nice, inspiring words, though.



It's getting late, so I'll save international figures and U.S. and international events for later.

[jfla]

General Robert E. Lee (gasp!) An overall good guy, but many of his actions were questionable, particularly at Gettysburg, and some wonder if his heart wasn't completely in it. He was a great general, but perhaps his reputation exceeds the reality.

America's generals during the Rebellion could, as a whole, out-do anybody the traitors could muster.  Examples: George Thomas (also a Virginian); Phil Sheridan; George Gordon Meade (Lee pretty much knew he was beat when he learned that Meade had the Army of the Potomac- Lee knew that Meade would not make any mistakes at Gettysburg).  And don't forget Admiral David Glasgow Farragut (also a Virginian).

When the southern states started seceding from the Union Lee was posted as the CO of an American army base in Texas.  But before Virginia left the Union Lee got orders to report to President Lincoln.  Bruce Catton speculates that had Lee still be in charge in Texas when the rebels demanded the surrender of the base that Lee had been commanding, Lee may not have surrendered as his successor did.

Patrick Henry Just my personal opinion, but he comes across as a bit of a grouch who didn't play well with others.

Which explains why so many libertarians adore him.