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The hesitation of Maj. Gen. George Brinton McClellan

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Q: What generals hesitation led towards the failure of union troops to capture Richmond?
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What was the objective of the Union during the Peninsula campaign?

The Union's objective in the Peninsular Campaign was to capture the Confederate capital of Richmond and end the war. General McClellan had convinced President Lincoln that the plan Lincoln favored would take too long. Using the York and James River peninsula would be a shorter march to Richmond. Unfortunately, for the Union it was a failure. However looking at it from the Confederate point of view, the repulse of the Union army saved Richmond and at the same time brought in Confederate General Robert E. Lee to defend Virginia and Richmond.


Why did Union plans for using a peninsula assault on Richmond still persist as late as early 1863?

The failure of Union General Ambrose Burnside at Fredericksburg did not change US President Lincoln from believing that the capture of Richmond was key to a quick Union victory. All sorts of plans to do this were debated among Union generals and President Lincoln. The advantage of a peninsula campaign remained despite the first attempt to do this by General George B. McClellan. Using the James River as a means of transportation would bring Union forces to within 20 miles of Richmond without the risk of serious conflict from Southern forces. And, by staying close to the James River, the logistical problem could be solved. The army could unburden itself of carrying along with them all the supplies it would need. Only the artillery would need to be part of the caravan to Richmond. All baggage, provisions and ammunition wagons could be left behind. This approach had the same intended results of all the other plans that were discussed to take down Richmond. This meant that all railways running south from Richmond would be cut. Whether this approach would damage the Army of Northern Virginia remained in doubt as it depended upon what General Lee would do. Richmond however "could not maneuver" itself out of the way of an assault and the fall of Richmond was be the result.


Who was general john j pershing sent to capture in Mexico?

No, Pershing's Punitive Expedition was a failure.


Did Andrew Jackson successfully capture Montreal from the British in 1813?

Andrew Jackson performed successfully in the southern theater during the War of 1812. American efforts to capture Montreal met with failure due to poor organization and implementation and hostilities between commanding officers. A win would have made Britain's hold on America tenuous, at best. However, the United States was unable to successfully capture Montreal.


Why was McClellan's Campaign called the Peninsular Campaign?

This campaign is called the Peninsular (peninsula) Campaign because the action was fought on the peninsula of land bounded on the north by the York River, the south by the James River and extending out to Chesapeake Bay. The Battles of Yorktown (which was not a battle but a siege that produced next to no results for McClellan) Williamsburg, Hanover Court House, Seven Pines, and the battles of The Seven Days were all fought during this expedition. The thrust of the campaign was the capture of the Confederate capital at Richmond, Virginia but it ended in failure.

Related questions

What generals hesitation led to the failure of union troops to capture Richmond?

The hesitation of Maj. Gen. George Brinton McClellan


What actions taken be president Lincoln contributed to general george b mcclellans failure to capture Richmond in 1862?

he did not give mcclellan enough troops


What was the confederate victory at fredericksburg critical?

It was not especially critical. It merely represented another failure of the Union armies to capture Richmond. It cost heavy Union losses against small Confederate losses. And it resulted in the sacking of Burnside.


What was the objective of the Union during the Peninsula campaign?

The Union's objective in the Peninsular Campaign was to capture the Confederate capital of Richmond and end the war. General McClellan had convinced President Lincoln that the plan Lincoln favored would take too long. Using the York and James River peninsula would be a shorter march to Richmond. Unfortunately, for the Union it was a failure. However looking at it from the Confederate point of view, the repulse of the Union army saved Richmond and at the same time brought in Confederate General Robert E. Lee to defend Virginia and Richmond.


Extra pacemaker spikes that don't precede a beat is caused by which condition?

failure to capture


When did Del Driver die?

Del Driver died on July 25, 2005, in Richmond, Virginia, USA of heart failure.


When did Marcus Goodrich die?

Marcus Goodrich died on October 20, 1991, in Richmond, Virginia, USA of heart failure.


What are the symptoms of an O2 sensor failure on a 1993 Chrysler LeBaron?

Check engine light, poor fuel economy, cuts out, mis fires, stumbles, hesitation, black smoke,


Why did Union plans for using a peninsula assault on Richmond still persist as late as early 1863?

The failure of Union General Ambrose Burnside at Fredericksburg did not change US President Lincoln from believing that the capture of Richmond was key to a quick Union victory. All sorts of plans to do this were debated among Union generals and President Lincoln. The advantage of a peninsula campaign remained despite the first attempt to do this by General George B. McClellan. Using the James River as a means of transportation would bring Union forces to within 20 miles of Richmond without the risk of serious conflict from Southern forces. And, by staying close to the James River, the logistical problem could be solved. The army could unburden itself of carrying along with them all the supplies it would need. Only the artillery would need to be part of the caravan to Richmond. All baggage, provisions and ammunition wagons could be left behind. This approach had the same intended results of all the other plans that were discussed to take down Richmond. This meant that all railways running south from Richmond would be cut. Whether this approach would damage the Army of Northern Virginia remained in doubt as it depended upon what General Lee would do. Richmond however "could not maneuver" itself out of the way of an assault and the fall of Richmond was be the result.


What was the cause to the Battle of Gallipoli?

The Western Front had reached a stalemate and the British generals wanted a decisive victory. Gallipoli was a side-track and a failure.


Why was the capture of Richmond important for the Union army?

If the Union had been able to capture Richmond early in the US Civil War, it would have made a positive impact for the North. The city was the capital of the Confederacy and had value in that sense alone. Richmond also contained manufacturing and an early capture could have hampered the production of Confederate war supplies. However, the Union's two failed attempts to seize the city at the Battle of the first Bull Run, and the failure of the Peninsula campaign gave the South the time required to build extensive fortifications to protect the city. Despite that, the second Battle of Bull Run also failed to even reach the gates of the city. If not for the early failures, the South would have had to evacuate Richmond and find a new capital. The disruption within the Confederacy would have made a positive propaganda news for the Northern public. Also militarily the portion of Virginia east and north of it would have placed Union troops in good positions.In Napoleonic War Era terms, early on the city could have been called a "center of gravity" and its capture a blow to the South. Since that never happened, for a time the Union was devoted to other measures to end the rebellion.


What caused US President Lincoln to be confident that the Peninsula Campaign would be successful?

Lincoln, always at the telegraph lines in Washington DC had confidence in the success for the Peninsula Campaign. As an aside he originally had strong objections to it. He was also confident inasmuch as McClellan had a large army to prosecute this campaign. It came almost to a success when the Union forces came within six miles of Richmond. However, Richmond eluded the grasp of McClellan and Lincoln agonized over the failure to capture what in military terms was a major center of gravity for the South.