The first major battle of the US Civil War was the First Battle of Bull Run. The Rebel battle plan was created by General PT Beauregard. The ranking general, General Joseph Johnston asked Beauregard to create a plan to attack the Federal advance. Johnston approved Beauregard's plan.Until late May of 1862, Johnston had yet to plan an offensive against the Federals. It was Johnston who undertook his first offensive plan. The battle would be called Seven Pines.
General Rosencrans was successful in preparing his Army of the Cumberland in 1863. He then began his offensive against Confederate General Braxton Bragg in June of 1863.
Confederate General James Longstreet was present at the meeting in Richmond where strategy was formed on the best way to counter the Union's attack on the Peninsula. Longstreet accurately predicted that because Union General George B. McClellan was an engineer at heart, he would not act rashly. Longstreet cautioned against making any rash moves against McClellan because the Union general was known to avoid heavy offensive operations. Therefore, prudent but effective defensive actions would slow down the battle cautious Union general.
Confederate General Braxton Bragg had been carrying on operations in the Western theater. In 1862, he and General Kirby Smith were preparing to join forces for battles in Tennessee. In the last days of August, 1862, Bragg begins his offensive against Union General Buell in Tennessee.
President Lincoln sent his newly appointed General in Chief Henry Wager Halleck to visit General McClellan at his headquarters on the Peninsula in July of 1862. McClellan refused to take the a second offensive against Richmond unless he was reinforced. Halleck immediately saw the Union's disadvantage in this situation. Unless Confederate General Lee perceived McClellan as a threat to Richmond, he would be free to use his interior lines to attack either McClellan or the new army in Virginia under the command of General Pope. Halleck's decision proved to be eventful. He ordered McClellan to leave the Peninsula and reinforce Pope in northern Virginia.
General McClellan believed he had good reasons for his ideas that Washington DC was set about to damage his plans for the Peninsula campaign. He resented his battle plans being questioned, having his army reorganized against his will, and to read in newspapers about his removal from the general in chief title he had. From that point on, he began his campaign of blaming Washington DC for his failures in the Peninsula campaign.
On July 1, 1862, the Battle of Malvern Hill was fought in the Peninsula campaign. Confederate forces under General Robert E. Lee suffered a serious defeat against entrench Union troops. Union commanders under General McClellan urge a counterattack, however McClellan believes he needs to retreat rather than lose more troops.
Hannibal was the general of Carthage who successfully won many battles on the Italian peninsula during the 2nd Punic War. His use of war elephants and an improved phalanx battle formation proved to be extremely effective against the Roman legions.
They stand on the offensive line against the defense and they try to keep the quarterback from being sacked
The Peninsula campaign was the work of the Union's General in Chief, George B. McClellan. As general in chief, McClellan submitted a brilliant plan to catch the Confederates off guard and instead of attacking Richmond with a march due south from Washington DC, he convinced President Lincoln that time and distance could be saved by launching the attack against Richmond from the peninsula that lay east of Richmond. Lincoln finally agreed with the plan but as McClellan was proceeding, Lincoln thought it best to remove McClellan as general in chief so that he could focus all his attention on Richmond and not be distracted with other military operations.
Military theorist Henri Jomini was a strong advocate of the power of the offense. As he served in Napoleon's army in the early 1800's, Jomini saw the positive effects of Napoleon's offensive operations. During the 1864 Atlanta campaign, Union Major General Sherman followed the Jomini offensive tactic of using artillery against the Confederate fortifications.
In late July of 1864, The Army of Tennessee commanded by General John Bell Hood launched an eight day offensive against the forces of General William T. Sherman. The purpose of the assault was to stop Union attempts to cut the southern railroad leading to Atlanta, Georgia. Hood was successful, however he took large losses in his attempt to save Atlanta.
To assert the viability of the Confederate States of America, and encourage Britain to intervene on their side. Also to occupy territory in the North, and to be able to threaten Washington D.C.