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How many troops did General McClellan believe were enough to defend Washington DC in 1861?
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∙ 6y ago
General McClellan, in 1861, recommended that 20,000 troops were needed to defend Washington DC. With other troops stationed in the vicinity , additional reinforcements could be rapidly sent to the defense of the capitol.
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∙ 6y ago
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What major development caused Union General George McClellan to believe that President Lincoln was hampering the Peninsula campaign of 1862?
As the Union's Peninsula campaign was in its early stages, General McClellan was certain that President Lincoln was hampering McClellan's war operations. Lincoln had stepped in and retained the corps under General McDowell to defend Washington DC. Lincoln believed this was a necessity.
What event in May of 1862 forfeits any chance for reinforcements to General McClellan's army on the Peninsula?
General George B. McClellan has had bad feelings towards President Lincoln and his cabinet when he learns that troops he counted on would be saved to protect Washington DC. He is then refused reinforcements for two reasons. One is the threat to Washington DC posed by Major General Stonewall Jackson as he closes in on Harpers Ferry. On top of that, McClellan already outnumbers the Confederates defending Richmond by a two to one margin. McClellan refuses to believe the number of Confederate left to defend his target, Richmond.
How many troops did General McClellan were needed to defend Washington DC in 1861?
In the Fall of 1861, General McClellan believed that 20,000 troops would be needed to defend Washington DC. This was predicated on the deployment of other Union troops in the Washington DC area that could be sent to Washington as reinforcements if needed.
Why did Abraham Lincoln withold troops from general george B. mcclellan even as he pushed the general to attack?
Lincoln wanted enough troops to remain near Washington DC to defend it from Confederate attack. McClellan had taken almost all of the Army of the Potomac into Virginia, and as shown later in the war, a determined Southern attack could force a large contingent to hurriedly return to Washington to protect the capital. The capital cities of Richmond and Washington are only about 100 miles apart.
When did General McClellan advise the US Secretary of War that the Rebel army was too large for him to defend the capitol?
Apparently, General McClellan's warning to General in Chief Winfield Scott went unheeded. In September of 1861, the US Secretary of War, Simon Cameron received in writing McClellan's alarming news that the Rebel army was, as of September 13, 1861, probably 170,000 men strong. McClellan voiced concern that at most, he could muster between 60,000 to 80,000 troops.In actuality, the Confederate force on the south side of the Potomac River was about 45,000 men. And, no plans were made by Jefferson Davis or General Joseph Johnston to assault Washington DC.
When did General George B McClellan begin to blame President Lincoln for what would become a Union defeat in the Peninsula campaign of 1862?
After General McClellan had persuaded President Lincoln to agree to McClellan's Peninsula campaign, he began shipping troops of the Army of the Potomac to Fort Monroe in April of 1862. By April 3, 1862, President Lincoln was deeply concerned that McClellan had planned on leaving less than 20,000 troops to defend Washington DC as his forces began to occupy Fort Monroe. Lincoln refused to let the Corps led by General McDowell to join the rest of the Army of the Potomac at Fort Monroe. Lincoln ordered McDowell to stay near Washington DC as a defensive measure. This began what would be an ongoing dispute between McClellan and President Lincoln and Secretary of War Stanton regarding the troop levels McClellan wanted for his campaign to take the Rebel capital of Richmond.
What was the immediate aftermath of the Union defeat at the Second Battle of Bull Run?
US President Lincoln was shocked and dismayed at the performance of his top generals when the Second Battle of Bull Run resulted in a Union defeat. The immediate response from Lincoln was to move General John Pope to a command in Minnesota and thus "out of the way". Lincoln was also upset the his general in chief, Henry Halleck had failed to coordinate the forces of Pope and McClellan to avoid the loss at Bull Run. Despite the objections of Lincoln's cabinet, Lincoln placed McClellan in charge of troops protecting Washington DC. The cabinet blamed Pope's failure by the deliberate inaction of McClellan. Lincoln did this as he was certain only the organizer and trainer of troops, General George B. McClellan was his only choice to defend Washington DC.
What decision by the Union Secretary of War created a rift a problem for General In Chief George B McClellan?
The Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton M. Stanton had once been a strong supporter of General In Chief George B. McClellan. This relationship began to deteriorate as the Peninsula campaign began to unfold. With McClellan now at Fort Monroe, the garrison commander of the troops protecting Washington DC informed Stanton that he lacked enough troops to protect Washington DC. The claim was that this was an acute problem in that 4,000 troops had been ordered from Washington DC to Manassas. This was one of General Bank's areas of responsibility. Stanton determined that 30,000 troops were required to defend the city. At the time there were only 19,000. There are no records on how the number of 30,000 was determined. The end result was that US President Lincoln, under Stanton's advice, removed one division from McClellan's army. This was a direct intervention of McClellan's plans and he was not consulted on it.There is speculation that Lincoln was not only pressured by Stanton, but also from Congress's Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War.
What did Union General George B McClellan believe was the best way to protect Washington DC from a Confederate assault?
Union General George B. McClellan, along with many other Union generals, believed the best way to defend Washington DC, would be to assault Richmond, the Confederate capital. Their thinking was that if Confederate General Robert E. Lee had been compelled to fight for the safety of Richmond, he would have been forced to concentrate the main part of his army around that city. Now Lee would still have the ability to launch a raid down the Shenandoah Valley, if the valley was improperly protected by Union forces, this would only require a small segment of his army. It would not constitute a decisive threat to Washington DC. With the Union attacking, rather then withdrawing, this would have forced Lee to fight which to many was the best path to a Union end to the rebellion.
Who was the union general for the battle of fort Sumter?
The commander of the garrison was not a General - only a Major. His General-in-Chief in Washington was Winfield Scott, though the decision to defend Fort Sumter was made by Lincoln.
How did the caution of President Lincoln prevent the success of the Peninsula campaign?
It should be noted that President Lincoln and his secretary of war of war, Edwin Stanton, agreed to remove from Major General George B. McClellan, his position of general in chief as the Peninsula campaign took McClellan to Fort Monroe. The major problem was that they did not have another general waiting in the wings to be the Union's general in chief.Lacking one, Lincoln and Stanton, tried to assume that position all on their own. This was an error. Both men were over cautious about defending Washington DC, while McClellan was marching against Richmond. This over cautious stance diminished the success of the Peninsula campaign in that General McDowell's army was kept back to defend the Union capitol city. The chances of Confederate General Joseph Johnston to attack Washington DC, which would only be a temporary victory, were next to nothing. McClellan correctly believed that Johnston could not attack or even capture Washington DC, and sacrifice Richmond. Richmond's loss would be permanent. At that time, any Southern incursion north of the Potomac River could only be temporary. Knowing what is now known about Jefferson Davis, he would never allowed Johnston to undertake such a risky adventure.
What location did General Lee use to continue his offensive based on his victory at the Second Battle of Bull Run?
With the victory at the Second Battle of Bull Run, General Lee has thwarted Union plans to capture Richmond and General Pope is forced to retreat towards Washington DC. With all momentum on his side in the Eastern Theater, Lee plans on an offensive into Maryland. With Confederate General Bragg's offensive in the West, Lee has every chance to cause a general panic in the Union military. The loss at the Second Bull Run, even forces President Lincoln to reappoint McClellan to defend Washington DC, over the objections of his cabinet.Lee reorganizes his army and plans his offensive in Leesburg, Virginia.
