0
How did Union General Henry W Halleck reorganize the command structure in the Eastern Theater?
ChuckSiata
As General Joseph Hooker was doing his best to boost the morale of the Army of the Potomac, and being credited with his great success, Halleck, under fire from US President Lincoln, began to reorganize the command structure in the Eastern Theater. This was a challenge, and a major reason was the fact that Lincoln believed that Halleck had failed in more than one way to correctly exercise his role as general in chief. Because of that, General Hooker convinced Lincoln that he could break the normal chain of command and report directly to President Lincoln. This was a serious flaw by any military measure.
With that said, Halleck took the following measures:
* He placed the troops at Harper's Ferry and troops in the Shenandoah Valley under the command of Major General Robert Schenck;
* Halleck reassigned the 9th Corps of the Army of the Potomac to Major General Dix at Fort Monroe; and
* Halleck retained Major General Heintzelman as commander of the Washington DC defense troops.
Halleck believed that these armies were too weak to defend themselves and ordered General Hooker to support them from the Army of the Potomac as needed.
Lincoln again stepped in to break the chain of command by offering Hooker command of the Washington DC garrison, bur Hooker declined.
Halleck was able to give to Hooker the same instructions that Lincoln had approved for the last commander of the Army of the Potomac, General Burnside, the command to focus on destroying Lee's army.
Wiki User
∙ 8y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What was one of Union General Henry W. Halleck's problems when he became the general in chief in 1862?
When President Lincoln promoted Major General Henry W. Halleck as the new general in chief, Halleck had more than one problem confronting him. Part of the reason for this was that after Lincoln removed McClellan from the general in chief position, too many months passed before Lincoln designated Halleck to fill this crucial position. Lincoln and Secretary of War Stanton took on that role to the detriment of the Union's war efforts. Aside from the disaster of the Peninsula campaign and what to do with Major General George B. McClellan, Halleck faced problems in the West. His departure from the West caused a loss of unity in that critical area. Halleck had no real candidates to fill his old position and had resolved to reorganize the Western department. He also faced the new political pressures that Washington DC presented to him.
What did Union General Henry Halleck overlook with regards to Tennessee in 1862?
Major General Henry W. Halleck and his subordinate, General Don Carlos Buell failed to grasp the the military importance of Chattanooga, Tennessee. This was compounded by Buell's failure to clear eastern Tennessee and push his forces to the Cumberland Gap. Both objectives were within reach. General Mitchel could have taken Chattanooga in April of 1862. And, Union General George Thomas believed that with proper support, he could have taken eastern Tennessee in October of 1861. The combined failures of more than just General Halleck had the opportunity for the Union ending the war sooner than it did.
How did the Union general staff structure compare to the one used by Prussia?
As with the Prussian model of their high command structure, the Union's organization under the control of General Henry W. Halleck resembled it closely. The key element common to both was that it has Secretary of War Stanton and General Halleck displayed as chiefs of staff both reporting directly to the commander in chief, President Lincoln. Also, as along the lines of the Prussian model, Halleck is shown to be in charge of the quartermaster staff. This too resembles the Prussian model.
What is General Halleck's nickname?
"Old Brains"
Did Henry Wager Halleck have any children and a wife?
General Henry W. Halleck was married. His wife was named Elizabeth.
What elements did General Halleck bring to the position of general in chief for the Union?
Major General Henry W. Halleck was a good choice to replace General George B. McClellan as the Union's new general in chief. He had what President Lincoln was looking for. Halleck was a West Point graduate with genuine prestige. This sat well with the army and the general public. Halleck also had already established a strong loyalty among the Union's western commanders. He would be new to the Eastern Theater, and this required all of his skills to deal with the eastern officers such as Burnside, Hooker and McClellan. General Pope would also move to the East, however, Halleck already knew of his abilities.
What was one of Union General Henry W. Halleck's problems when he became the general in chief in 1862?
When President Lincoln promoted Major General Henry W. Halleck as the new general in chief, Halleck had more than one problem confronting him. Part of the reason for this was that after Lincoln removed McClellan from the general in chief position, too many months passed before Lincoln designated Halleck to fill this crucial position. Lincoln and Secretary of War Stanton took on that role to the detriment of the Union's war efforts. Aside from the disaster of the Peninsula campaign and what to do with Major General George B. McClellan, Halleck faced problems in the West. His departure from the West caused a loss of unity in that critical area. Halleck had no real candidates to fill his old position and had resolved to reorganize the Western department. He also faced the new political pressures that Washington DC presented to him.
Did General Halleck defeat pope in in the second Battle of Bull Run?
No. Lee defeated Pope. Halleck was a Union general.
What did Union General Henry Halleck overlook with regards to Tennessee in 1862?
Major General Henry W. Halleck and his subordinate, General Don Carlos Buell failed to grasp the the military importance of Chattanooga, Tennessee. This was compounded by Buell's failure to clear eastern Tennessee and push his forces to the Cumberland Gap. Both objectives were within reach. General Mitchel could have taken Chattanooga in April of 1862. And, Union General George Thomas believed that with proper support, he could have taken eastern Tennessee in October of 1861. The combined failures of more than just General Halleck had the opportunity for the Union ending the war sooner than it did.
How did the Union general staff structure compare to the one used by Prussia?
As with the Prussian model of their high command structure, the Union's organization under the control of General Henry W. Halleck resembled it closely. The key element common to both was that it has Secretary of War Stanton and General Halleck displayed as chiefs of staff both reporting directly to the commander in chief, President Lincoln. Also, as along the lines of the Prussian model, Halleck is shown to be in charge of the quartermaster staff. This too resembles the Prussian model.
What were some of the characteristics of Union general Henry Halleck?
Some of the characteristics of Union General Henry Halleck was that he was a land developer and a successful lawyer.
What were some of the problems surrounding General Henry Wager Halleck and his new position?
When US President Lincoln called General Henry Halleck to Washington DC, to head the Union's war effort it may have been a mistake. One clear thing at once became evident, Halleck would now be drawn into the Virginia military, McClellan, Stanton and Lincoln web of Eastern Theater confusion.
What is General Halleck's nickname?
"Old Brains"
What did General US Grant say about General Halleck's takeover of Grant's army?
Almost immediately after the Battle of Shiloh, Grant's commanding officer, General Halleck left his headquarters in St. Louis and took charge of Grant's army. Grant wrote to his wife " General Halleck is here and I am truly glad of it".
What were the concerns of Union General in Chief Henry W Halleck concerning General Pope?
After Union General in Chief Henry W. Halleck ordered General McClellan to evacuate the Peninsula in July of 1862, and reinforce General Pope, Halleck was concerned about the leadership abilities of the new commander of the army formed under John Pope. Based on Halleck's observations during the Corinth campaign, Pope appeared to have limited abilities as a field commander.
What became the newest strategy of Union General Henry Halleck after the Union had captured Corinth Mississippi?
More then one US Civil War historian has claimed that General Henry Wager Halleck was unfairly treated by the Lincoln administration. Whatever his faults, Halleck was a true military genius of sorts. After the fall of Corinth, Halleck's plan called for keeping a minimum number of troops to hold Memphis and sending relief to General Curtis in Arkansas and to eastern Tennessee, a place with strong Union supporters. An additional feature of Halleck's plan was to set forth plans to capture Vicksburg. His idea was to send flotillas of gunboats from Memphis and New Orleans to disable Vicksburg.
What vital action did General Grant fail to make upon arriving at Pittsburg Landing in 1862?
Although General Halleck was not perfect, he did become the Union's general in chief in the Summer of 1862. With that said, Halleck deserved the opportunity President Lincoln offered to him. Halleck was a great strategist and realized that General Grant was a logical target for a Confederate assault at Pittsburg Landing, leading to the Battle of Shiloh. Halleck ordered General Buell to make a hasty trip down river to reinforce Grant. Halleck believed that unless these two armies were united, they might be outnumbered. Grant failed to follow one crucial order from Halleck, Halleck had ordered Grant to take a strong defensive position at Pittsburg Landing and to entrench his army. This General Grant failed to do.
