# Confederate base names going away **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 11, 2020, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confederate-base-names-going-away/927855 "2020-12-11T20:23:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confederate-base-names-going-away/927855/41 "2022-10-11T14:04:35Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > maybe the Naming Commission figured there were too many bases named for Civil War generals Good point there. It eases my unkind disappointment at not having one of the Georgia posts Shermanned. But yeah let’s keep George Thomas on the list for if we want to make someone quit their whingeing. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confederate-base-names-going-away/927855/42 "2022-10-11T14:07:23Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Which once again proves that the military should never be allowed to decide the name of **anything**. Ever. Reminds you of the old joke about the Army, doesn’t it? _Question: What’s the difference between the Army and the Boy Scouts?_ _Answer: The Boy Scouts have adult leadership._ ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confederate-base-names-going-away/927855/43 "2022-10-11T14:22:18Z")
Heh, we’re lucky they had sense enough to name a committee and NOT do an online poll… ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confederate-base-names-going-away/927855/44 "2022-10-11T14:23:51Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Heh, we’re lucky they had sense enough to name a committee and NOT do an online poll… - What did they name the committee? ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confederate-base-names-going-away/927855/45 "2022-10-11T14:25:12Z")
Committee McCommitteFace. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confederate-base-names-going-away/927855/46 "2022-10-11T17:40:12Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I’ve driven past Fort Thomas in northern Kentucky on I-75 many times, but didn’t know until now that the city (previously a fort) was named after General George Thomas. Two counties in other states have also been named for him. > > My favorite story about “Old Slow Trot” involves [the aftermath of the successful Union assault on Missionary Ridge](http://smithsonianmag.com/history/catching-up-with-old-slow-trot-148045684/) in November 1863. > > “Thomas,…ordered that a cemetery be created for his soldiers on a beautiful slope of the battlefield. When a chaplain asked if the dead should be separated by state, Thomas did not hesitate. “No, no,” he said. “Mix them up. Mix them up. I’m tired of states’ rights.”” That’s a good one. Another time, when a captured Confederate officer turned up his nose at his USCT guards, saying, “I’d rather die than be taken into custody by n----r troops,” Thomas snapped, “Well, then, you’d better get ready to die, because these are the best men I’ve got!” And three days after Thomas saved the day at Chickamauga, Lincoln wrote, “It is doubtful whether his heroism and skill…has ever been surpassed in the world.” Yes, I’m a fan. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confederate-base-names-going-away/927855/47 "2022-10-11T19:08:25Z")
Oddly Ft Bragg was not named after a CSA general. (Yes, Bragg was a CSA general, but the Fort was named due to his earlier exploits) ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confederate-base-names-going-away/927855/48 "2022-10-11T19:10:38Z")
If you’re saying he was a competent and courageous officer before becoming a traitor, that’s a correct historical fact. But even that feels like post-hoc justification for “we need a Confederate general from North Carolina, even if he was infamous for losing all the time and being a bad leader and officer while he was at it.” ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confederate-base-names-going-away/927855/49 "2022-10-11T19:23:16Z")
True, for the base in NC, but not true for the town in California , since the original post was named after Bragg in 1857. People are trying to get the town renamed also. And since General Bragg likely helped the Union more than the CSA, that is the only Base which to me is a “maybe”. But renaming it is okay by me also. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confederate-base-names-going-away/927855/50 "2022-10-11T20:47:49Z")
He wasn’t _trying_ to help the U.S. from 1861-65, though. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confederate-base-names-going-away/927855/51 "2022-10-11T21:06:19Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > If you’re saying he was a competent and courageous officer before becoming a traitor, that’s a correct historical fact. But even that feels like post-hoc justification for “we need a Confederate general from North Carolina, even if he was infamous for losing all the time and being a bad leader and officer while he was at it” It’s a bit odd, actually. There was another, far more successful Confederate general from North Carolina: D. H. Hill. But maybe they didn’t want confusion with Fort A. P. Hill. Totally irrelevant trivial fact - my fifth cousin owns the house in Warrenton where Bragg was born. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confederate-base-names-going-away/927855/52 "2022-10-11T21:28:41Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Now if there could only be a national awakening about all things Columbus. Talk about an undeserving prick. There’s a local awakening currently in Chicago, and the Italian American community is pissed off to the highest levels of pisstivity. We have Indidgenous People’s day on the same day as Columbus day here. (Upon further review, I guess that’s national…) > **[A Proclamation on Indigenous Peoples' Day, 2022 | The White House](https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2022/10/07/a-proclamation-on-indigenous-peoples-day-2022/)** > >      On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we honor the sovereignty, resilience, and immense contributions that Native Americans have made to the world; and we recommit to upholding our solemn trust and treaty responsibilities to Tribal... ---
**Author:** ![GWF\_Hefel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/898d66/32.png) [@GWF\_Hefel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GWF_Hefel)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confederate-base-names-going-away/927855/53 "2022-10-11T22:02:58Z")
There was a time when I had to refer to Bragg several times a day and I appreciated its one syllable name. Perhaps the name will live on informally. (I truculently still refer to National airport!) Does jingoism in America know no bounds? I’m gonna go have some freedom fries… ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confederate-base-names-going-away/927855/54 "2022-10-11T22:26:22Z")
> [@GWF\_Hefel](#): > > Does jingoism in America know no bounds? I do not think that word means what you think it means. (and seriously, praising a pro-slavery traitor because he has a conveniently short name!?) ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2022, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confederate-base-names-going-away/927855/55 "2022-10-12T01:08:01Z")
Sure. Trivializing him. His one merit is his easy to say name. He was already a joke militarily until “rehabilitated” by association with the post. ---
**Author:** ![GWF\_Hefel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/898d66/32.png) [@GWF\_Hefel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GWF_Hefel)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2022, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confederate-base-names-going-away/927855/56 "2022-10-12T07:04:42Z")
I’m sorry, I expressed myself poorly. Let me try again. I was complaining on two different fronts about renaming Bragg Ft Liberty. I find the new name useless in practice and typically American rah-rah-rah. How about Ft Powell? Now back to my freedom fries. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2022, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confederate-base-names-going-away/927855/57 "2022-10-12T13:37:38Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > > [@gnoitall](#): > > > > If you’re saying he was a competent and courageous officer before becoming a traitor, that’s a correct historical fact. But even that feels like post-hoc justification for “we need a Confederate general from North Carolina, even if he was infamous for losing all the time and being a bad leader and officer while he was at it” > > It’s a bit odd, actually. There was another, far more successful Confederate general from North Carolina: D. H. Hill. But maybe they didn’t want confusion with Fort A. P. Hill. > > Totally irrelevant trivial fact - my fifth cousin owns the house in Warrenton where Bragg was born. - That’s not a Hill anyone wanted to die on. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2022, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confederate-base-names-going-away/927855/58 "2022-10-12T13:59:38Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > > [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > > > > [@gnoitall](#): > > > > > > If you’re saying he was a competent and courageous officer before becoming a traitor, that’s a correct historical fact. But even that feels like post-hoc justification for “we need a Confederate general from North Carolina, even if he was infamous for losing all the time and being a bad leader and officer while he was at it” > > > > It’s a bit odd, actually. There was another, far more successful Confederate general from North Carolina: D. H. Hill. But maybe they didn’t want confusion with Fort A. P. Hill. > > > > Totally irrelevant trivial fact - my fifth cousin owns the house in Warrenton where Bragg was born. - > > That’s not a Hill anyone wanted to die on Awright, you - outta the gene pool! ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2022, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confederate-base-names-going-away/927855/59 "2022-10-12T14:00:23Z")
I wish they’d pick a 2-syllable name to replace Benning. There are a number of traditional marching/running cadences that won’t work so well with “Moore.” Apart from that… good, great change, long overdue, they shouldn’t have been named after traitors in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2022, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confederate-base-names-going-away/927855/60 "2022-10-12T14:04:33Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > And since General Bragg likely helped the Union more than the CSA I suspect this is a sardonic reference to Bragg’s less than stellar record on behalf of the South during the Civil War. Based on his catastrophically bad decisions after Pearl Harbor (especially the Midway offensive), maybe we should name a fort after Isoroku Yamamoto.\* \*when codebreakers discovered Yamamoto’s plan to fly to a Japanese base later in the war and planners were debating whether to send fighters to shoot down his plane, there apparently was debate about the wisdom of that move, since Yamamoto by that point had done a pretty good job of helping the Allies win the Pacific War. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confederate-base-names-going-away/927855.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confederate-base-names-going-away/927855.md?page=4)