AGEOD Forums

Benjamin McCulloch

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_McCulloch
(see link for picture)

McCoulloch was one of the Confederate co-commanders at Wilson's Creek in 1861.....he did not get along well with Sterling Price so after the battle the Confederate government installed Earl Van Dorn over both of them. McCoulloch commanded the right-wing of the Southern army at the Battle of Pea Ridge, where he was killed.

I don't think McCoulloch was ever promoted to Major General, but he led division-sized forces and probably would have gotten the official promotion if he had lived longer.

I would recommend 4/1/1 and "Indian_Fighter" (see pre-war experiences in wikipedia entry)

I would add 'Patroler' trait. This was his claim to fame and it was deserved.

I have been tempted to bring him to 4-2-2 as well, he tried to educate himself on military matters and recognized idiots when he saw them.
However, he did not seem to do much of a job at disciplining his troops.

Mike

Actually, Ben McCulloch was said to have been an excellent officer.

Historians say that he had turned the rag-tag of troops he picked up in Arkansas into one of the very best fighting forces the Confederacy would field during the war.

It would seem we may have under rated his abilities. He had done a good job of educating himself on strategy & tactics and he also had a knack for organization as well as logistics.

We know of his amazing scouting abilities, though they are not reflected in the game either.

It was his reconnaissance and his employment of his forces that gave Van Dorn the little success he had with the Army of the West in Arkansas.

Historians generally blame the disaster at Pea Ridge and its aftermath on the loss of McCulloch in battle.

McCulloch was also a celebrity even before the war. He had been heralded as another Denial Boon for his scouting, as well as many other exploits.

Ol' Choctaw wrote:Actually, Ben McCulloch was said to have been an excellent officer.

Historians say that he had turned the rag-tag of troops he picked up in Arkansas into one of the very best fighting forces the Confederacy would field during the war.

It would seem we may have under rated his abilities. He had done a good job of educating himself on strategy & tactics and he also had a knack for organization as well as logistics.

We know of his amazing scouting abilities, though they are not reflected in the game either.

It was his reconnaissance and his employment of his forces that gave Van Dorn the little success he had with the Army of the West in Arkansas.

Historians generally blame the disaster at Pea Ridge and its aftermath on the loss of McCulloch in battle.

McCulloch was also a celebrity even before the war. He had been heralded as another Denial Boon for his scouting, as well as many other exploits.

Funny though that most of the CSA generals in the Trans-Mississippi Department were notorious drunkards, see Sibley, etc. and philanders - Earl van Dorn was killed in a duel by a jealous husband!

Klink, Oberst

rickd79 wrote:I would recommend 4/1/1 and "Indian_Fighter" (see pre-war experiences in wikipedia entry)

This is already the case...

That is much too simple and too modest a rating.

McCulloch fought in the War of Texas independence and received a battlefield commission for his handling of artillery.

He lead men and commanded a wing of battle (division) during the relief of San Antonio. He also scouted and campaigned against the Comanche.

During the Mexican War Taylor made him head of all army scouts.

He held high political office in Texas twice, was made Sheriff of Sacramento CA, served as Marshal under two Presidents in Washington, where he spent most of his time studying military arts.

He was selected by the President to be one of two Peace Commissioners sent to Utah after the Mormon War. Afterward, President Buchanan used McCulloch as a “Secret Agent” and sent into Mexico.

He was made Major General of Texas Militia. In February 1861 he was commissioned Col. In the Confederate Army by Davis himself. This is extraordinary, because Davis held a grudge against McCulloch. Yet despite this Davis made him the senior officer in Texas.

A few days later McCulloch surprised General Twiggs when he surrounded his installation with 1000 men and received his surrender.

PhilThib wrote:This is already the case...

This was only the first suggestion.

The second is much better, as at least a 4-2-2. But I would change his Special Abilities.

Discard the Cavalryman.

Change Indian Fighting Skill to Irregular Fighting Skill. He had demonstrated these skills against the Mexican Army raiders, bandits, and Comanches on numerous occasions.

Give him Charismatic. He was a popular and legendary figure across the country, having done everything and been everywhere and was looked up to by men where ever he went.

Give him Master Spy. This is why he was given secret missions and made chief scout by Taylor in Mexico. He and his scouts had been within a mile of the Supreme Army Commander (Santa Anna) on several occasions. Unfortunately for all concerned, it was his information on Union positions at Pea Ridge that lead Van Dorn to attack Curtis, against McCulloch’s advice.

That gives him a total of three. He could easily have more but he didn’t live long enough to demonstrate his abilities in this War. It is difficult to say what he could have been.

Ok, this could be done this way indeed...

Great!
Thanks!

Why drop cavalryman? McIntosh's charge at Pea Ridge was one of the larger cavalry charges of the west (a brigade charging doesn't sound like much, but when you consider the numbers involved it makes for a formidable action). Of course many today mistakenly think most of McCulloch's cavalry and mounted rifles were dismounted, but actually they lost much of their horses on the retreat after Pea Ridge and were only dismounted once they had left the Trans Mississippi...

Otherwise I agree that Ben is underrated so far. By the way, his brother Henry might be justified for inclusion (with much lower seniority) in the game. He took over Ben's regiment during formation in 61, fought on the Texas Frontier, became a brigadier general by the end of that year and fought in a number of campaigns in the following years in the Trans Mississippi...

Well “Cavalryman”? That was mainly because not everyone should be a military genius.

We could list other traits too but there has to be a limit.

He could easily be a trainer, a ranger, a cavalryman, etc, etc.

While he fought in many battle, he only fought in two in this war. Not enough to go much farther with his abilities.

People are in need of cavalry leaders to the Trans Mississippi..

It would help some if Marmaduke and Shelby should come at the historical promotion dates, people used to like Van Dorn or McCulloch for this role in the early war.

Watie is the only cav leader West of the river in the start.

I did have one or two in mind, but as I understand it, we are out of slots for more leaders in the game.

The force McCulloch arrives with has plenty of cavalry. Between him and Price, you have the forces that were at Wilson's Creek, if you can get them there.