He was called 'Old Reliable': To mark William J. Hardee's birthday, we asked experts to weigh in on legacy of noted corps commander, author of infantry tactics manual

Confederate Lt. Gen. William J. Hardee, an accomplished corps commander nicknamed “Old Reliable” by his troops, was born in coastal Georgia on this day (Oct. 12) in 1815.

Before the Civil War, Hardee fought in the Mexican-American War and served four years as commandant at West Point. He is known for writing a popular infantry manual used by officers in both the Northern and Southern armies in the Civil War.

To mark Hardee’s birthday, the Picket asked historians, battlefield experts and other Civil War experts to weigh in on his legacy.

Some remarks have been edited, and context added to more fully detail their points.

Keith Bohannon, history professor at the University of West Georgia

You should mention the superb biography of Hardee done by the late historian Nathaniel Hughes Jr. of Chattanooga. Nat was one of the finest historians who have ever written about the Western Theater of the Civil War.

(The Abraham Lincoln Book Shop in Chicago says “General William J. Hardee: Old Reliable,” published in 1965, is the definitive biography. “Often in consideration for army command, Hardee never quite gained Jefferson Davis’ trust, for many reasons that Hughes relates,” the shop says.

“The author finds Hardee an example of conservative military leadership that could not adapt itself to the practices of modern war. To the end he was a professional soldier of the classical school, fighting and even thinking in Napoleonic terms.”)

Bob Jenkins, executive director, Blue and Gray Education Society

1. His instruction book: “Rifle and Light Infantry Tactics” Biographer Nathaniel Hughes Jr. wrote, “It might be said that every officer of the war went into battle with a sword in one hand and a copy of Hardee’s manual in the other.”

2. I believe that the was the only officer at the corps and/or army commander level to have served in the Confederate Army of Tennessee (in all of its iterations) from start to end of the war: Shiloh to Bentonville.

3. His nickname was “Old Reliable.” In some ways. when considering his consistency and general competency and reliability in terms of not being absent from his post, and in following orders, this may be considered true. In other ways, he was not brilliant. He undermined Bragg with subordinates and did not take initiative well.