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.
President Lincoln believed the position of general in chief needed to be restored. With that said, he appointed General Henry Halleck to that position in July of 1862. Lincoln would come to regret that decision.
US President Lincoln had faith in the abilities of General Henry W. Halleck. Lincoln created a new Department of the Mississippi. This was a large area and made Halleck the top general in the West.
President Lincoln had left the position of general in chief vacant since he had taken away that title from General George B. McClellan. On July 11, 1862, Lincoln named General Henry W. Halleck to be the Union's new general in chief.
because they wanted beaten so hard the southerners .
Both US president Lincoln and General in Chief Henry Wager Halleck were displeased with general Joseph hooker. They believed that Hooker's response to Lee's crossing of the Potomac River was late and unresponsive to the needs of the Union. This required a change and Halleck's choice of General Meade to replace Hooker was in line with President Lincoln's views on the matter.
President Lincoln did second guess himself for a while. This is because General McClellan had years of extensive industry and military experience. Lincoln, however, would soon find a replacement for the ousted General.
As General In Chief, Henry Wager Halleck did an excellent job in the Western Theater. His promotion was due to his talent as a military strategist. Problems arose because US President Lincoln, Secretary of War, Stanton tried to be military advisors. Halleck has been unduly criticized and could have easily continued.
US President Lincoln was impressed by General Halleck's performance in the West. He appointed him to be general in chief of all Union military forces on July 11, 1862. The previous general in chief had been General George B. McClellan.
US President Lincoln had promoted General Henry Halleck to be the Union's general in chief. His first major decision was in the Summer of 1862 when he ordered General McClellan to retreat from the Peninsula and return with his army to Washington.
In early July of 1862, US President Lincoln summoned General Henry W. Halleck to come to Washington DC. Lincoln had already decided to give Halleck command of all Federal armies, which of course included General Geprge B. McClellan's Army of the Potomac. Halleck's fist assignment was to see if McClellan was willing to retry his assault on the Confederate capital of Richmond. Lincoln had focused on the fall of Richmond since the beginning of the war. Halleck was informed that McClellan would have to use the troops he already had. If McClellan refused, Halleck was to relieve him and withdraw the army back to Washington DC and an entirely new campaign could be formulated.
Once Corinth Mississippi was controlled by Major General Halleck in 1862, he advised President Lincoln that all Union forces not required to control the Memphis and Charleston railway, would be used to support General Curtis in Arkansas and to send forces to East Tennessee. President Lincoln was in favor of Halleck's plans. Especially sending Union forces to East Tennessee. That part of the state had many Unionists living there and Lincoln wanted to support them.
When President Lincoln appointed General US grant to the position of general in chief, it created two new elements in the Union' high command. Grant became the chief of staff to President Lincoln and the former general in chief, Henry W. Halleck became Grant's chief of staff. Halleck was well adapted to this role and operated the army's headquarters efficiently and effectively.