8. Horatio Gates
Gates’ administration skill was invaluable to the fledgling American army, as he was among a few who had significant experience working in the bureaucracy system of British Army. As an adjutant-general, he established standardization and military hierarchy. Gates’ performance as a field commander was less than successful; he only sat still inside the fort and failed to issue meaningful orders during the Battle of Saratoga. Luckily, his subordinates, Benedict Arnold, Daniel Morgan, Benjamin Lincoln and Enoch Poor, took the initiative and halted the British attack successfully.