John C. Breckenridge

[Nathaniel]

Just an amusing story about America's youngest vice-president, John C Breckenridge.
After the Civil War, Breckenridge was in exile touring Europe.
In Britain he received a luncheon invitation from a countess who, as it happened had also advertised for a new footman, the requirements being primarily a stately figure.
Breckinridge getting the time wrong arrived too early and was ushered into her presence unannounced, the countess mistaking him for a prospective footman asked:

"Have you a reference from your last place?" Breckenridge had a sense of humour and replied "Yes, my lady".
"What were your duties?"
"Well, my lady, in my last three places I held, I was Vice -President of the United States, Major General in the Confederate Army, and Secretary of War of the Confederate States of America!"
The countess could only reply, "Oh! General Breckenridge".
He did not get the job.

[from Breckenridge, Soldier, Statesman, Symbol ; W.C.Davis]

[frank7350]

great story!

since he's up...

172 CSA John C. Breckinridge ldr_CSA_Breckinridge2 NULL NULL NULL NULL 7 8 2 29 General 1 NULL 5 1 1

191 CSA John C. Breckinridge ldr_CSA_Breckinridge NULL NULL NULL NULL 6 5 1 18 General 1 NULL 5 1 1

the bad:

political general
routed at Chattanooga


the pros:

disliked bragg intensely
wounded at Shilod
secured lower Miss R. as independent commander
serve with distinction at the Battle of Stones River and Chickamauga
victory at new market (but against sigel)
reorganized the con. army in sw va.
later served as sec. of war

based on the above... i think we have to raise his att/def values. he strategy rating seems high, he was solid in ind. command, but always smaller commands. i think we could go with 4/3/2

a higher political rating for breckenridge might be interesting as well

as for his traits... one of the administrator traits certainly.

[Chris0827]

He definately needs a higher political rating.

[Feralkoala]

Does he, though? Breckinridge, while a political general, seems to actually have been motivated by a desire to serve. I can't recall an instance of either him or his political allies ghetting ruffled feathers by him being passed over.

[frank7350]

but on the flip side...the higher rating represents his close ties to jeff davis... good argument can be made either way.

what about his ratings tho? 4/3/2? 4/2/2? thoughts?

[Chris0827]

I'd go with 4/2/2

[Korrigan]

I'd go 4-3-2. He won a decisive victory against a superior Union force at the Battle of New Market, which saw the famous charge of the VMI cadets. Howeve, I'd only give him 3-2-2 as Division level as he was gaining some military experience. Plus Good administrator as he was taking good care of his Orphans Brigade. This trait was confirmed later as War secretary IMHO.

Proposition:

172 CSA John C. Breckinridge ldr_CSA_Breckinridge2 $Good_Administrator_Army NULL NULL NULL 7 8 2 29 General 1 NULL 4 3 2

191 CSA John C. Breckinridge ldr_CSA_Breckinridge 172 $Good_Administrator_Army NULL NULL NULL 6 5 1 18 General 1 NULL 3 2 2


I think we should also have a look later at his VP value:

In 1863, (premature) rumors of his death prompted the New York Times to print what is perhaps the most vituperative obituary ever written about a nationally elected American official.

[frank7350]

ok...

i do think we need to raise his pol rating as well. same rationale as burnside... he didn't want the promotions, but we raised the rating to simulate some of the tension. i think that with breckenridge, if his pol was a 10, things would be more interesting...and would sim his close ties to the admin..but not force the player into a poor position automatically