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Shelby Foote reports that McPherson was a master engineer -- Grant set him to work on the Yazoo -- he had taught engineering at West Point. Should be good for a teachable skill involving crossing rivers and such.

It seems that his field command abilities were of a different order. In Castel's account of the Atlanta campaign he comes across as a very average general who didn't warrant Grant's high praise.

ORIGINAL: Ironclad

It seems that his field command abilities were of a different order. In Castel's account of the Atlanta campaign he comes across as a very average general who didn't warrant Grant's high praise.

Yes, he was cautious and prudent and sensible, but doesn't seem to have been much of a fighting general. His rise to the very top -- and one of the most prominent squares in Wash DC named after him -- has been a bit of a mystery to me. He was clearly a capable officer in general and maybe Grant just liked working with him.

I think Grant liked to advance his friends. that got him into trouble later.