The problem is the AI's tactics really involves just charging your position and trying to pound you... (mostly fromt he front) and because general's are a cavalry unit they outrun the rest of the army and hit first, and they die first.

I have seen generals charge my Phalanx head-on trying to do a "Two Towers Charge" and getting made into a kebab!

In MTW it was not so much of an issue because of the insane valour and hitpoint bonuses a general could get (jedi generals anyone?) you could surround them and they would not die.

Now we no longer have jedis but still have really, really bad AI tactics.