Why did Abraham Lincoln have so many generals?

Answer 1

Because it took him a little time to learn how to choose and use the right Generals for the job.

McDowell was the unluckiest - he already knew his army was not adequately trained for operations, but the press and politicians pushed him into it.

McClellan wanted the luxury of waiting till everything was ready (not on the menu, George), and then convinced himself that the enemy's strength was two or three times bigger than it was.

Burnside was also unlucky - a modest man, aware of his limitations, who had twice turned down the top job. But when Lincoln said it would otherwise go to Joe Hooker, whom Burnside disliked, he accepted. He was out of his depth, but also beaten by bad weather.

Hooker exceeded expectations in his brisk re-organisation of the army, and appeared well-placed to beat Lee. But Lee wrong-footed him, and Stonewall was able to catch him off-guard in a shattering charge.

Next was Meade, who enjoyed the distinction of beating Lee in a historic battle (Gettysburg), and remained in command till the end, despite his appalling misjudgment at the Battle of the Crater (Petersburg).

Supervising these were the two Generals-in-Chief, the super-intellectual, slow-moving Halleck, who missed many opportunities for quick wins, and finally Grant, who turned out the right man for a long war of attrition. It is hard to believe that any other Union General could have achieved final victory.

When some of his cabinet had questioned Grant's suitability for promotion, Lincoln said "I can't spare this man. He fights."

Answer 2

Because he had trouble finding a good general. One of them wouldn't chase down general Lee when he should have and that could have been the end of the war right there. By the end of the war i think he had had 7 or 8 generals.