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How did Confederate Secretary of War James Seddon attempt to aid Vicksburg?
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∙ 7y ago
Although General Robert E. Lee and senior members of the Confederate high command were certain that Vicksburg would play no part in the US Civil, Lee's raid into Pennsylvania in late June of 1863, might have helped relieve some pressure on Vicksburg. The problem was that unless Lee was immediately successful, Lee's incursion to the North and into Pennsylvania would not help Vicksburg.That being the case, and the fall of Vicksburg on July 4, 1863 could not have been prevented.
Only if Lee had won earlier in Pennsylvania and occupied Harrisburg, would Union troops be forced to forget Vicksburg for a time and rescue the North, in a manner of speaking.
Secretary of War Seddon saw the Propaganda value to the North by taking Vicksburg. With that in mind, Seddon planned an offensive aimed at Helena, Arkansas. The force was led by Major General Theophilus Hunter Holmes. It failed.
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∙ 7y ago
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How did Confederate Secretary of War James Seddon try to prevent the US Civil War?
James Seddon had been an attorney prior to the US Civil War. He was a Democratic Congressman from Virginia. He was against an armed conflict to resolve sectional differences and so attended the "peace convention" held in Washington DC .After the war started, Confederate President Jefferson Davis appointed Seddon as Secretary of War in November of 1862.
Who were named as co-conspirators in the war crimes trial of former Confederate Captain Henry Wirz?
The Federal Commission investigating Confederate war crimes during the US Civil War were Confederate Secretary of War Seddon and President Jefferson Davis among others. Only Captain Wirz was found guilty and hanged. Seddon received a pardon for any guilt by US President Johnson in November of 1867.
Why general johnston did not come to the aid of Vicksburg?
With Pemberton making the concious decision to fall back to Vicksburg and entrench his Army of around 22-23,000 men within the cities defenses adding to its 8,000 man garrison, ignoring both Johnston's suggestions and orders, he left Johnston with only aroung 11-15,000 men to opposed Grant and Sherman and try to break the seige. Johnston desperately tried to build an army big enough to strike out but with the poor state of Confederate transport it took a long time to build an Army of any real size. By the 1st of June General Johnston had a force of about 23,000 men but by this time the Grant had around 77,000 men under his command and had place 34,000 men under Sherman behind the Big Black River to oppose any attempt by Johnston to relieve the city. On Paper the Confederate government believed that Johnston should have between 30,000 and 35,000 men under his command but not all of those reinforcements had made it to Mississippi and Johnston strength was far weaker than the lowest estimate of the Confederate Government. An argument between Johnston and Davis soon followed as Johnston had not known that he remained commander of the Department of the West when he was directed by Secretary of War Seddon to take command in Mississippi and nobody made this clear to him until after Pemberton had fallen back to Vicksburg. Davis asked why Johnston did not simply take more troops from Bragg, Johnston argued that being in command in Mississippi meant that he could not be commander of the whole western department at the same time and that even if he were to exersize those powers, moving troops from Bragg would more or less give Tennessee to the Union. Both felt they were reasonable in their conclusions but in the end Davis felt he had to write out a long lecture to Johnston saying just how wrong he was. Seddon eventually tried to mediate and urged speed in relieving Vicksburg and told Johnston he would have to make do with what he had but this ignored the chief problem that Johnston had. He had, at most, 25,000 men with which he was expected to attack Sherman who was in a strong defensive position, defeat him so thoroughly that he could advance on Vicksburg without having to worry about him any more then engage Grant's even larger force and defeat that so thoroughly that Grant would be compelled to withdraw and lift the seige. It was an impossible tast.
Why was Confederate General Joseph Johnston not relieved of duty by Jefferson Davis?
When Confederate General Joseph Johnston refused to obey the orders of the Confederate Secretary of War, James Seddon, President Davis had every reason to relieve Johnston of duty. Despite the past disagreements with Johnston, and what would turn out to be future disagreements, President Davis did not fire Johnston. Instead, recognizing his good points, Davis tried to help him. He did so by exploring with him the possibility of a campaign into Kentucky.
Who did Jefferson Davis name secretary of war and state and treasury?
for one, great job rephrasing your question into a reasonable one. Secretary of War: Leroy P. Walker (1861) • Judah P. Benjamin (1861-1862) • George W. Randolph (1862) • James A. Seddon (1862-1865) • John C. Breckinridge (1865) Secretary of State: Robert Toombs (1861) • Robert M. T. Hunter (1861-1862) • Judah P. Benjamin (1862-1865) Secretary of Treasury: Christopher Memminger (1861-1864) • George A. Trenholm (1864-1865) • John H. Reagan (1865)
What was Confederate General Robert E. Lee's respnse to the idea of shifting part of his army to help with Vicksburg?
The Southern secretary of war, James A. Seddon had a difficult job. He faced a situation in the late Spring of 1863 that for his particular position in the cabinet that was beyond "difficult". On one hand he worked for President Jefferson Davis who always wanted to be a general himself. In lieu of that, he acted as a general in chief and as the Confederate president. The latter job was easily enough for anyone. Secretary Seddon soon saw that Davis and Robert E. Lee were on the same "page" in a manner of speaking.In early May of 1863, Secretary Seddon wrote to General Lee, asking him to send troops from his army to help Vicksburg. Seddon had already had failed with generals Holmes and Johnston in this task.Lee was a good general when it came to respecting the South's war structure. He responded to to Seddon that it was most likely impossible for his army in Virginia to arrive in good time to help Vicksburg. Added to that was the uncertainty that would confront any of his generals in the Army of Northern Virginia.Lee rightly believed that the major Union threat was in Virginia. He informed both Seddon and Jefferson Davis that the forces of Union General Joseph Hooker were well over 125,000 troops and steadily expanding.Back in Virginia, Seddon and Davis faced a terrible dilemmas. Was there a chance to save Vicksburg, and if so, what would happen in Virginia with a depleted Army of Northern Virginia?It soon became a clear choice. Richmond and Virginia had to be protected at any cost. The secondary position at Vicksburg would have to be sacrificed..
When did Confederate General John C Breckinridge become the Confederate secretary of war?
Confederate President Jefferson Davis appointed General John C. Breckinridge to be the new secretary of war on February 6, 1865. Breckinridge replaced John A. Seddon who had resigned.
How did Confederate Secretary of War James Seddon try to prevent the US Civil War?
James Seddon had been an attorney prior to the US Civil War. He was a Democratic Congressman from Virginia. He was against an armed conflict to resolve sectional differences and so attended the "peace convention" held in Washington DC .After the war started, Confederate President Jefferson Davis appointed Seddon as Secretary of War in November of 1862.
Who was the South's fourth Secretary of War?
James Alexander Seddon was the fourth Confederate Secretary of War. Many historians believe that he was the most capable and only Robert E. Lee had more influence on Confederate President Jefferson Davis.
Did Confederate Secretary War James Seddon have a military background?
The Confederacy's secretary of war in November of 1862 was James Alexander Seddon. He had no military background, he had been successful Richmond lawyer and also served as a congressman in the US and in the Confederate Congress.Jefferson Davis' other candidates for the office, major generals Johnston and Smith did have a strong military background.
What three candidates did Confederate President Davis consider to replace George W. Randolph as the next secretary of war?
With George W. Randolph's resignation as the Confederate secretary of war, President Davis narrowed his choices to three men. These were Major General GW Smith, General Joseph Johnston and James A. Seddon. Davis chose Seddon, an attorney from Virginia.
Who were named as co-conspirators in the war crimes trial of former Confederate Captain Henry Wirz?
The Federal Commission investigating Confederate war crimes during the US Civil War were Confederate Secretary of War Seddon and President Jefferson Davis among others. Only Captain Wirz was found guilty and hanged. Seddon received a pardon for any guilt by US President Johnson in November of 1867.
Who was the Confederate secretary of war when General John Bell Hood was appointed to command the Army of Tennessee?
The Confederate secretary of war was James A. Seddon when General John Bell Hood was given the command of the Army of Tennessee. He encouraged Hood to try and cut the long communications lines of Union General Sherman's armies.
Who was secretary of state in the confederate states?
Robert Toombs of Georgia was the first Secretary of State. Robert Hunter of Virginia replaced Toombs as Secretary of State on July 25, 1861. In March,1862, Judah Benjamin from Louisiana moved to Secretary of State from the War Department.
What Union general believed that in February of 1863 that the Confederates were planning to retake western Virginia?
In early February of 1863, Union Major General Robert H. Milroy reported to his commander, Major General Schneck, that he had intelligence that reported a planned Confederate attempt to retake western Virginia was underway. He requested permission to take action to end such a threat. Word was passed on to General Joseph Hooker who believed that Milroy was a "stampeder" and asked General Schneck if Milroy should be replaced.Milroy's information was well founded, however, as the Confederate Secretary of War, James Seddon was under political pressure to do what Milroy suspected. Confederate General Robert E. Lee, however, informed Seddon that it was not the correct time to be concerned with retaking western Virginia.
Why general johnston did not come to the aid of Vicksburg?
With Pemberton making the concious decision to fall back to Vicksburg and entrench his Army of around 22-23,000 men within the cities defenses adding to its 8,000 man garrison, ignoring both Johnston's suggestions and orders, he left Johnston with only aroung 11-15,000 men to opposed Grant and Sherman and try to break the seige. Johnston desperately tried to build an army big enough to strike out but with the poor state of Confederate transport it took a long time to build an Army of any real size. By the 1st of June General Johnston had a force of about 23,000 men but by this time the Grant had around 77,000 men under his command and had place 34,000 men under Sherman behind the Big Black River to oppose any attempt by Johnston to relieve the city. On Paper the Confederate government believed that Johnston should have between 30,000 and 35,000 men under his command but not all of those reinforcements had made it to Mississippi and Johnston strength was far weaker than the lowest estimate of the Confederate Government. An argument between Johnston and Davis soon followed as Johnston had not known that he remained commander of the Department of the West when he was directed by Secretary of War Seddon to take command in Mississippi and nobody made this clear to him until after Pemberton had fallen back to Vicksburg. Davis asked why Johnston did not simply take more troops from Bragg, Johnston argued that being in command in Mississippi meant that he could not be commander of the whole western department at the same time and that even if he were to exersize those powers, moving troops from Bragg would more or less give Tennessee to the Union. Both felt they were reasonable in their conclusions but in the end Davis felt he had to write out a long lecture to Johnston saying just how wrong he was. Seddon eventually tried to mediate and urged speed in relieving Vicksburg and told Johnston he would have to make do with what he had but this ignored the chief problem that Johnston had. He had, at most, 25,000 men with which he was expected to attack Sherman who was in a strong defensive position, defeat him so thoroughly that he could advance on Vicksburg without having to worry about him any more then engage Grant's even larger force and defeat that so thoroughly that Grant would be compelled to withdraw and lift the seige. It was an impossible tast.
Why was Confederate General Joseph Johnston not relieved of duty by Jefferson Davis?
When Confederate General Joseph Johnston refused to obey the orders of the Confederate Secretary of War, James Seddon, President Davis had every reason to relieve Johnston of duty. Despite the past disagreements with Johnston, and what would turn out to be future disagreements, President Davis did not fire Johnston. Instead, recognizing his good points, Davis tried to help him. He did so by exploring with him the possibility of a campaign into Kentucky.
