0
How many troops did General McClellan were needed to defend Washington DC in 1861?
Wiki User
∙ 6y ago
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.
Wiki User
∙ 6y ago
Wiki User
∙ 6y agoThe Lincoln administration believed that the City of Washington DC needed to be firmly fortified. By the end of 1861, the city had extensive fortifications that were 37 miles worth of walls, entrenchments and many artillery batteries. Although General in Chief George B. McClellan is often given credit for this elaborate set of fortifications, West Point engineer Major Barnard handled most of the details.
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
Who replaced General George B McClellan in the Department of Ohio when McClellan was called to Washington DC?
When General George B. McClellan assumed command of the Army of the Potomac, a replacement was needed for the Ohio Department. General William S. Rosecrans was selected. He was a West Point graduate and a soldier of known competence.
What general replaced General George B McClellan after he delayed an attack on Robert E Lee after the Battle of Antietam?
After Antietam (Sept 17, 1862) when McClellan once again believed he needed time for his troops to rest. President Lincoln replaced him (on Nov 7) with General Ambrose Burnside. That was the end of McClellan's service as a Union military leader. As an aside, General Burnside felt uncomfortable replacing George B. McClellan. He had been loyal to him, also, he was not sure the command of the Army of the Potomac would be a fit for his abilities.
How did the actions of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson at the First Battle of Bull Run lead General George B McClellan to take charge of the Union army?
Jackson led a determined stand against the Union Army
What was the reason President Lincoln assigned the defense of Washington DC to Major General George B McClellan in 1862?
Despite the debacle of the failed Peninsula campaign and the alleged failure of Major General George B. McClellan to promptly respond to the direct orders of General in Chief Henry W. Halleck to help General Pope at the Battle of Second Manssas, President Lincoln appointed McClellan to take command of the armies that were defending Washington DC. This shocked both Lincoln's cabinet, some news media and most Republicans.Lincoln made this decision for two reasons. One was that Lincoln recognized, with due correctness, that the armies needed a commander who was a proven organizer. Secondly, Lincoln realized that armies in the Eastern Theater, especially soldiers in the Army of the Potomac loved and respected McClellan. Whatever his faults, which were legion, his intension was always to protect his men. As seen later in the war, other generals were quite willing to sacrifice Northern soldiers to meet the desired goal of ending the Southern rebellion.
What caused general george washington to come up with a bold new plan?
Patriot soldiers needed a victory
How many troops did General McClellan believe were enough to defend Washington DC in 1861?
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.
Who replaced General George B McClellan in the Department of Ohio when McClellan was called to Washington DC?
When General George B. McClellan assumed command of the Army of the Potomac, a replacement was needed for the Ohio Department. General William S. Rosecrans was selected. He was a West Point graduate and a soldier of known competence.
How did General George B McClellan approach the problem of General Lee's raid into Maryland in 1862?
Upon learning of the raid into Maryland by General Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia, Major General George B. McClellan knew he was facing a challenge from the South's best general and its best army. With that in mind, McClellan began to follow the Confederates slowly, making sure that Washington DC and Baltimore, Maryland were secure. He also needed time to reorganize his Army of the Potomac in order to meet Lee's challenge.
What was one of the first assignments US President Lincoln gave to General In Chief Halleck?
Based on the problems created by Union General George B. McClellan, Halleck was sent to McClellan's headquarters in Eastern Virginia. At his place of retreat, Halleck and Quartermaster General Meigs needed to determine whether the Army of the Potomac needed the 20,000 extra troops McClellan claimed were required to save the Peninsula Campaign. If not, or due some other problem, McClellan would be ordered to return to Northern Virginia.
What was General George B. McClellan's policy regarding the beginning of a battle?
In August of 1861, Major General George B. McClellan began to set policies and guidelines for the army he was training in Washington DC. As a general rule, McClellan made it clear that artillery batteries needed to be concentrated on a decisive point in the enemy's lines. When it was clear that the enemy was damaged by the artillery, the infantry could then advance. Cavalry units would stand in reserve and be ready to take advantage of the infantry's progress against the enemy.Of course, these general policies could be changed if circumstances warranted it.
How did the Union secretary of war hamper General George B McClellan's Peninsula Campaign?
Union General George B. McClellan had estimated that 19,000 troops were needed to man Washington DC's defense as he proceeded to Fort Monroe. The fort was his safe launching pad for his Peninsula campaign. Somehow, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton concluded that 30,000 troops were needed. The term of "somehow" is used as there seems to have been no military officer involved in establishing this number. President Lincoln was given this information. Lincoln was also under pressure from the Congressional Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War. Lincoln himself feared a problem if Washington DC was light on defenses. This resulted in removing General McDowell's corps from McClellan's army. McClellan was seething over this "political" decision. He later wrote that this move was the most infamous thing that history ever recorded.
What general replaced General George B McClellan after he delayed an attack on Robert E Lee after the Battle of Antietam?
After Antietam (Sept 17, 1862) when McClellan once again believed he needed time for his troops to rest. President Lincoln replaced him (on Nov 7) with General Ambrose Burnside. That was the end of McClellan's service as a Union military leader. As an aside, General Burnside felt uncomfortable replacing George B. McClellan. He had been loyal to him, also, he was not sure the command of the Army of the Potomac would be a fit for his abilities.
What two Union generals assessed the need for more troops to protect Washington DC as the Peninsula campaign began to unfold?
President Lincoln took the advice of generals Hitchcock and Thomas on the number of troops that were needed to protect Washington DC as the Peninsula campaign was about to begin. As a result, General McDowell's corps were removed from General McClellan's army as the Peninsula campaign was almost ready to begin.
What was the letter President Lincoln sent to General George B McClellan in October of 1862?
On October 13, 1862, President Lincoln sent General McClellan a long letter explaining the plans Lincoln believed were needed to defeat the South. Lincoln was almost sure that an aggressive Union response from McClellan's army would not be forthcoming. With that said, McClellan had every chance to keep his position if he even tried to execute the plans Lincoln sent to him.
What was Major General George B. McClellan's proposal in dealing with Kentucky in 1861?
In June of 1861, Major General George B. McClellan approached General in Chief Winfield Scott on the best way to deal with Kentucky's proclaimed neutrality. He recommended that slavery should not be an issue with regards to Kentucky. McClellan believed that all private property in Kentucky, even with secessionists there needed to be respected irregardless of the political views of the citizens of that slave border state.
How did the actions of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson at the First Battle of Bull Run lead General George B McClellan to take charge of the Union army?
Jackson led a determined stand against the Union Army
What was the reason President Lincoln assigned the defense of Washington DC to Major General George B McClellan in 1862?
Despite the debacle of the failed Peninsula campaign and the alleged failure of Major General George B. McClellan to promptly respond to the direct orders of General in Chief Henry W. Halleck to help General Pope at the Battle of Second Manssas, President Lincoln appointed McClellan to take command of the armies that were defending Washington DC. This shocked both Lincoln's cabinet, some news media and most Republicans.Lincoln made this decision for two reasons. One was that Lincoln recognized, with due correctness, that the armies needed a commander who was a proven organizer. Secondly, Lincoln realized that armies in the Eastern Theater, especially soldiers in the Army of the Potomac loved and respected McClellan. Whatever his faults, which were legion, his intension was always to protect his men. As seen later in the war, other generals were quite willing to sacrifice Northern soldiers to meet the desired goal of ending the Southern rebellion.
