0
Why did US President Lincoln choose General George B McClellan to reorganize Northern troops after the Union failure at the First Battle of Bull Run?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
McClellan had directed a successful campaign in western Virginia (which soon became West Virginia) in 1861. His opponent was actually Robert E. Lee, though Lee was not feared by northerners as he came to be the next year. In 1861 in western Virginia, Lee had too few men and tried a complicated plan, which the new soldiers did not grasp and his new staff officers did not adequately explain to Lee's widely scattered subordinate commanders in the mountainous region, where the population was mostly pro-Union. This was the sole bright spot on the Union military landscape. McClellan also talked a good game and was a very self-confident person, infatuated with himself. McClellan had been one of the rising stars of the prewar army, before resigning to take a job as president of the Illinois Central Rail Road. The lawyer for the Illinois Central was Abraham Lincoln.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoUS President Abraham Lincoln's relationship with George B. McClellan began with a letter he sent to Winfield Scott. It would be because of McClellan's initiative that the two men would finally meet.Near the end of April, 1861, Major General George B. McClellan sent a letter from his headquarters in Ohio to General Winfield Scott. The letter contained two operational plans to end the Southern rebellion. The first plan called for securing Cairo, Illinois and McClellan outlined further steps once Cairo had been secured. This was the best way he thought could capture Richmond, Virginia and gain a huge step by capturing the Rebel capitol.
If the first plan proved to be impractical, due to problems with Kentucky's loyalty, McClellan offered a second choice. That would entail crossing the Ohio River, at either Cincinnati or Louisville with a force of 80,000 troops and march straight to the capital of Tennessee, that being Nashville. From the point of a now captured Nashville, McClellan outlined the subsequent steps to bring a multi -pronged assault on various strongholds of the South.
As McClellan had hoped, Scott sent these plans to President Lincoln and pointed out that the expiration of the three month volunteer enlistment would soon expire. He also pointed out what he considered to be flaws in the plans offered by McClellan. He took the opportunity to again press Lincoln to use Scott's Anaconda plan. This, Lincoln had no intentions of doing.
The Union failure at the Battle of the First Bull Run caused Lincoln to search for other ways to win a quick victory. Among them resulting McClellan engaging battle in western Virginia and being successful. The victories were small ones, to be sure. However, based on McClellan's prior proposals, his previous career at West Point, and the failure of Bull Run gave him a chance.
It would not take long for Lincoln to begin thinking more about George B. McClellan. He was called to Washington DC by Lincoln and arrived there at the end of July, 1861. He took command of all Federal forces in the city and became Lincoln's closest military advisor.
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What was the reaction of General George B McClellan to President Lincoln's preliminary Emancipation Proclamation?
President Lincoln's preliminary Emancipation Proclamation in 1862 was a shock to General McClellan. He also was shocked when Lincoln soon after suspended habeas corpus. He was opposed to both of these actions by President Lincoln.
What problem did General in Chief Henry W Halleck see upon his visit to General McClellan on the Peninsula in 1862?
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.
What major development caused Union General George McClellan to believe that President Lincoln was hampering the Peninsula campaign of 1862?
As the Union's Peninsula campaign was in its early stages, General McClellan was certain that President Lincoln was hampering McClellan's war operations. Lincoln had stepped in and retained the corps under General McDowell to defend Washington DC. Lincoln believed this was a necessity.
Which northern general was a great army organizer but not anxious to commit it to battle?
Ulysses S. Grant
What civil war general later became the governor of New Jersey?
George B. McClellan. McClellan also ran for president against Lincoln in 1864 (but lost). McClellan's son was also governor of New Jersey.
What caused President Lincoln to reappoint General McClellan to command the Army of the Potomac in 1862?
President Lincoln's cabinet was astounded that he reappointed General George B. McClellan once again command the Army of the Potomac. The Northern public, newspapers, the military, and the entire Lincoln administration were shocked. This was perhaps one of the most unthinkable acts that Lincoln would perform in the course of the war. The reasons for not reappointing McClellan are:1. President Lincoln held McClellan responsible for the defeat of Pope and the Army of the Potomac at the Second Battle of Bull Run. And understands that McClellan has a problem with engaging the enemy;2. Lincoln's cabinet also blames McClellan, this includes Secretary of War Stanton and generals Pope and McDowell. Stanton's aids claim McClellan with "treason" on Bull Run and soon this is public knowledge;3. General Pope accused McClellan of "deliberate sabotage";4.. The Northern Republican newspapers also blame McClellan for Pope's defeat. They also charge McClellan with treason;5. The former position of McClellan as general in chief, removed in the Spring of 1862, is given to General W. Halleck, who also finds serious faults with McClellan not only for Bull Run, but McClellan's poor showing in the Peninsula campaign; and6. When on the Peninsula, McClellan blames his failure there on the deliberate actions of Lincoln and Stanton.Lincoln's only response is that only McClellan can reorganize the Army of the Potomac after it's terrible defeat at the Second Bull Run.The reappointment of McClellan at this point of the war seems "unbelievable".
Who was the northern general who was fired twice by lincoln?
McClellan has that honor.
What actions did President Lincoln take after General George B McClellan left Washington DC for the Peninsula campaign?
General George B. McClellan's departure for his Peninsula campaign gave President Lincoln an opportunity to reorganize the Union's armies. With these plans, Lincoln also made certain changes:* He relieved McClellan as general in chief;* This left McClellan only in charge of the Army of the Potomac;* Under Henry Halleck, Lincoln created the Department of the Mississippi; and* Also, the Mountain Department was created under the command of John Fremont.Lincoln believed he was doing McClellan a favor by allowing him to focus on the major operation at hand, and one that might end the war, namely the capture of Richmond. As general in chief, McClellan would have never approved of the abolitionist General Fremont. Needless to say, McClellan was hugely disappointed with the loss of his most sought after position as general in chief.
How did General George B McClellan approach the problem of General Lee's raid into Maryland in 1862?
Upon learning of the raid into Maryland by General Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia, Major General George B. McClellan knew he was facing a challenge from the South's best general and its best army. With that in mind, McClellan began to follow the Confederates slowly, making sure that Washington DC and Baltimore, Maryland were secure. He also needed time to reorganize his Army of the Potomac in order to meet Lee's challenge.
Why is George McClellan important in the civil war?
McClellan was a Union commander and he repelled general Lee's first Northern invasion.
Who was the ineffective northern general and presidential candidate in the civil war?
George McClellan
When did General George B. McClellan discover that President Lincoln removed him as the general in chief?
When General George B. McClellan returned to Washington DC on March 11, 1862, he became aware that President Lincoln removed his title of general in chief.
Who was the democratic nominee for president in the 1864 election?
The democratic nominee for president in the 1864 election was George B. McClellan. McClellan was a former Union general during the Civil War and ran against the incumbent president, Abraham Lincoln.
What was one of the first assignments US President Lincoln gave to General In Chief Halleck?
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.
What Democrats run president 1n 1864?
The Democratic candidate was General George McClellan.
Who was the northern general in the Battle of Antietam?
Major General George B. McClellan was commanding the Federal Army of the Potomac at the Battle of Antietam.
What was the reaction of General George B McClellan to President Lincoln's preliminary Emancipation Proclamation?
President Lincoln's preliminary Emancipation Proclamation in 1862 was a shock to General McClellan. He also was shocked when Lincoln soon after suspended habeas corpus. He was opposed to both of these actions by President Lincoln.
