Civil War Question

Tim-Gabz

Tim-Gabz

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Nov 24, 2003
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There is a quote, that is being bandied around about the democrats at the moment clogging up my search.

Some many years ago I read an article about a Civil war general??? Who was described as the ???? who could snatch defeat out of the jaws of Victory. He had managed a number of fantastic and ludicrous losses in the Civil War.


Who was this guy and where can I get some info on him. The muck on internet reusing this term is frustrating.
 
I think people have been snatching defeat from the jaws of victory since the dawn of history ... no doubt it's been said about Civil War generals, but I don't think that's the origin of the phrase. I think that's lost in the mists of time.
 
The quote is alleged to be by Lincoln regarding Union General Ambrose Burnside in the fiasco at Petersburg in which the Union troops dug a tunnel and placed explosives under the Confederate lines. The Union troops became trapped in the crater that they stormed into and were cut down. This scene was depicted in the film "Cold Mountain" starring Jude law and Kicole Kidman.

"Only Burnside could snatch one more defeat from the jaws of Victory!"
 
I remember one fact about this guy I am looking for. He managed to get his entire group to sneak into the enemy's trenches and work their way up to the post to find no ladders at the other side resulting in the group getting themselves trapped and exposed infront of enemy forces and having to surrender. I'll carry on looking, it is starting to bug me.
 
Reading up on Burnside he certainly had a place in American history, but not on the same chapters as R.E.Lee and Grant.
 
My memory isn't working today so I can't recall thename .There was a general who was always stopping to regroup and resupply while the enemy escaped !! The phrase would apply to him.
 
Tim-Gabz said:
I remember one fact about this guy I am looking for. He managed to get his entire group to sneak into the enemy's trenches and work their way up to the post to find no ladders at the other side resulting in the group getting themselves trapped and exposed infront of enemy forces and having to surrender. I'll carry on looking, it is starting to bug me.
Click to expand...

Read my first post above. The quote is regarding Ambrose Burnside. As a Civil War buff it's a topic I'm familiar with. :rolleyes:

They did not surrender. The were slaughtered in The Battle of the Crater (as it became known).
 
Don't forget MacClellan...he wanted like a billion more Union troops at his disposal just to consider engaging Lee. Lincoln must have gone crazy dealing with him. If the South had the manpower and industry to back up it's depth of military leadership, North America could well have four countries today instead of three.
 
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