What is the best General in american history?

Nate

4 Star Marine General Smedley Butler.

Earned the Congressional Medal of honor twice (one of only 19 servicemen in history to be decorated in such fashion).

A TRUE hero and Patriot to the Country & the Corps.

Nicknamed, "The Fighting Quaker".

Lurch

Patton. But Lee was an amazing leader.

frenchy62

Patton.

Smoker06

Wow, tough question. Even generals come in different "flavors". Some made their fame as tactical commanders (Patton). Others were great operational commanders (Bradley). While some were great strategic level commanders (MacArthur).

Sometimes, generals cannot make the transition between the different levels. For example, Lee was a great tactical and operational commander, but I fault him for losing to the Civil War as a strategic level commander. I really think he lost his taste for war. He got tired and made critical mistakes. But then, that's my opinion.

If I had to pick just one general, I'd pick Bradley; simply because he was my favorite.

Brad V

I believe George Washington, Ulysses S. Grant, Douglas MacArthur, should all go before Lee.

If anything, Lee was a traitor to the US Army, his oath of commission, and the United States. He fought for what he believed in, but betrayed his earlier commitment to his country. Remember, Lee was a West Point graduate, Lt Col. in the US Army, and well on his way to being a great leader in the US military, when he turned his back to fight for the Confederacy !

tom l

Omar Bradley

Groucho

Gen. Pershing. Superb commander, outstanding leader of troops. Champion of the common soldier.

Bear

General "Stormin'" Norman Schwartzkoff because he held together coalition of countries that fundamentally hate each other for the better good. The only time other than Korea the U.N did right. We Stopped to soon but that's a different question

farien3

Did you mean "who was" as opposed to "what is"?

I guess you did...

George Patton.

Michael G

I would go with General Patton,General Pershing,Generals Meade/Stonewall Jackson/Grant/Sherman/and JEB Stuart.

John R

How can you answer this question. If you take any given war you could but not over time. Every war has different equipment and different tactics so there is actually no way to compare. Also where they fought makes a difference. who may have been great in one war may have been just so so in another.