On This Date in 1864

Bull Snipe: Cite a source for that statement.
MacArthur used almost the exact wording to describe Eisenhower."

On MacArthur vs. Eisenhower:

"MacArthur in 1947 referred to Eisenhower as the best clerk he ever had, and Eisenhower was fond of saying that he studied dramatics under MacArthur."

That's as close to a reference for it as I can get.

On Lincoln vs. Union Gen. Henry Halleck:

"Lincoln hoped that Halleck could prod his subordinate generals into taking more coordinated, aggressive actions across all of the theaters of war, but he was quickly disappointed, and was quoted as regarding him as 'little more than a first rate clerk.'[2][6]"

The two sources cited here are:

Fredriksen, John C. "Henry Wager Halleck." In Encyclopedia of the American Civil War: A Political, Social, and Military History, edited by David S. Heidler and Jeanne T. Heidler. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2000. ISBN 0-393-04758-X -- pp 908-11.
Warner, Ezra J. Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1964. ISBN 0-8071-0822-7 -- pp 195-97.

Comparing the two quotes, I'd say Lincoln's view of Halleck represents Lincoln's genius in finding an effective role for a less than sterling senior general.
Indeed, thinking more kindly of Halleck: if you consider the famous adage:

"amateurs talk tactics, professionals talk logistics"

what Lincoln called a "clerk" may well have been a master-logistician quietly working to use the Union's best advantages to keep fighting generals like Grant well supplied.

In MacArthur's case we're talking about the sun & moon belittling the brightness of more distant stars.
Eisenhower's "clerking" skills included a large dose of diplomatic tact which served him well in WWII.

“I’d say Lincoln’s view of Halleck represents Lincoln’s genius in finding an effective role for a less than sterling senior general.
Indeed, thinking more kindly of Halleck: if you consider the famous adage: “amateurs talk tactics, professionals talk logistics”what Lincoln called a “clerk” may well have been a master-logistician quietly working to use the Union’s best advantages to keep fighting generals like Grant well supplied.”
Spot on. While none would say Halleck was a good field commander, his handling of the army bureaucracy was outstanding. By late 1864 Halleck was managing the feeding, clothing, equipping, arming, medical care etc. for an Army of 800,000 men.
At that time, the Union Army was probably the best equipped army anywhere in the world.

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