After Union General in Chief Henry W. Halleck ordered General McClellan to evacuate the Peninsula in July of 1862, and reinforce General Pope, Halleck was concerned about the leadership abilities of the new commander of the army formed under John Pope. Based on Halleck's observations during the Corinth campaign, Pope appeared to have limited abilities as a field commander.
The irony concerning both of these Union generals was quite unique. When General Halleck was sent to Missouri to clean up the mess left by General Fremont, he also planned on helping the new general in chief George B. McClellan. Not long after, their roles were reversed. It was McClellan reporting to Halleck, as he was the new general in chief.
Commander of the Western theatre, reporting to Halleck as General-in-Chief. Later promoted General-in-Chief himself by Lincoln, with Halleck demoted to Chief-of-Staff. Considering the long-running feud between Grant and Halleck, the arrangement worked surprisingly well.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
General in Chief Henry W. Halleck was deeply involved in Union operations in Virginia in 1863. As the Summer approached, Halleck believed that Union General Joseph Hooker, commanding the Army of the Potomac would have to react to General Robert E. Lee's actions in northern Virginia. He believed that it was possible for Lee to pin Hooker back into defending Washington DC, and at the same time conduct a raid into Maryland and Pennsylvania. Halleck assured Hooker that if needed he would reinforce Hooker with troops from the Shenandoah Valley and from West Point.
Ulysses S. Grant came after General Henry Halleck. This happened when Halleck was called to Washington to become the new Union general in chief.
Ulysses S. Grant came after General Henry Halleck. This happened when Halleck was called to Washington to become the new Union general in chief.
Ulysses S. Grant came after General Henry Halleck. This happened when Halleck was called to Washington to become the new Union general in chief.
It was still Henry Halleck. But Grant's success at Vicksburg gave him great credibility, and the following March he was appointed General-in-Chief, with Halleck agreeing to serve under him as Chief-of-Staff.