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Why was it possible for Union General George B McClellan to save Harpers Ferry in September of 1862?
Both during the US Civil War and afterwards, it's been easy for historians to come up with the "What if" scenarios regarding military operations at the time and also to critique generals. An easy target of course has been Union General George B. McClellan. Far to easy it can be argued as he did not enjoy the luxury of having 600,000 troops at his disposal as did US General Grant in 1864. Nevertheless, historians debate whether McClellan had the chance prior to the Battle of Antietam to actually prevent that costly and horrific battle. His critics claim that if he had acted quickly upon receiving the lost orders of General Lee, McClellan could have saved the garrison at Harper's Ferry, disabled the Confederate troops assaulting it and thereby forcing Lee to withdraw from Maryland. What cannot be disputed is that the enormous cost of the dead and wounded at Antietam, was not worth the "victory" claimed by the Union.The anti-McClellan scenario goes like this:
* With the knowledge of Lee's divided army, McClellan could have ordered Burnside and Franklin to march during the night of September 13th instead of waiting until dawn of the 14th of September;
* A successful night march, always dangerous, could have relieved Federal forces at Harper's Ferry; and
* The Confederate forces of General Longstreet could have been destroyed or so severely reduced as to make it impossible for the Southern armies to capture Harper's Ferry and soon after march north to reunite with Lee's main force in Maryland.
With those actions, McClellan would have forced Lee to retreat.
Speculation and having hindsight is not fair in placing blame on McClellan for not following the steps outlined by so many post Civil War historians.
What else can I help you with?
Who was not a column leader in the assault on harpers ferry?
George McClellan
How did General Lee divide his army in response to the Union's occupation of Harpers Ferry in 1862?
On September 8, 1862, General Lee becomes aware of the fact that Union troops occupy Harpers Ferry. This is a danger to his plans as Lee expects to draw supplies from the northern end of the Shenandoah Valley. Lee is therefore compelled to capture Harpers Ferry and on September 9, 1862 his plan of operation is set forth.Lee decides to divide his army into three segments. One is led by generals Jackson and McLaws to capture Harpers Ferry. These troops will attack the fortified garrison from the west and the north. A second segment of his army is led by General Walker to attack Harpers Ferry from the southeast. A third division calls for General Longstreet to capture Boonsboro and Hagerstown as a base for future operations. This is the famous "lost order" that is retrieved by a Union soldier and given to General McClellan. He now has Lee's plans but advances with all precautions.
What event in May of 1862 forfeits any chance for reinforcements to General McClellan's army on the Peninsula?
General George B. McClellan has had bad feelings towards President Lincoln and his cabinet when he learns that troops he counted on would be saved to protect Washington DC. He is then refused reinforcements for two reasons. One is the threat to Washington DC posed by Major General Stonewall Jackson as he closes in on Harpers Ferry. On top of that, McClellan already outnumbers the Confederates defending Richmond by a two to one margin. McClellan refuses to believe the number of Confederate left to defend his target, Richmond.
When did the Harpers Ferry take place?
The Battle of Harpers Ferry started on September 12th 1862. The Battle of Harpers Ferry ended on September 15th 1862.
How did General Lee disguise the fact that his troop levels were not prepared to battle the Union army prior to the Battle of Antietam?
While the armies of General Lee and General McClellan were within striking distance on September 15, 1862, Lee sought to disguise the fact that his army was in no position to stave off an assault by the Army of the Potomac. He disguised his lack of strength by flying all the flags of his regiments from hidden positions, hoping McClellan would believe all of Lee's army was settled in at Sharpsburg. Confederate Major General Longstreet was ordered to repeatedly fire all of his artillery scattered along the Confederate lines. This made it appear that the Rebels were fully armed and ready for battle. That response from Lee, combined with McClellan's natural streak of always hesitating, allowed for more Southern troops to arrive from Harpers Ferry. By the 17th of September, Lee had all the troops he could muster and McClellan felt strong enough to launch an assault, thus beginning the fateful Battle of Antietam.
What is the date of the Harpers Ferry Craft Fair?
The Heritage Arts & Crafts Festival in Harpers Ferry, WV is September 26-28, 2008.
What year was the battle of Harpers ferry?
september 12-15 1862
When did the battle of Harpers ferry happen?
It happened on September 12-17, 1862
Are they making a DVD set for Harpers Island?
Yes, it comes out September 8.
What was the date of the battle of harper's ferry?
The Battle of Harpers Ferry was September of 1862
What was the purpose of th Union strategy to control Harpers Ferry?
The capture of Harper's Ferry was to save almost 13,000 Union troops from being captured and giving Union General George B. McClellan the chance for a substantial, even a decisive victory over Lee's separate components of his army.
What caused the problems for Confederate forces in their assault against Harpers Ferry in September of 1862?
The finding of a copy of the Special Order nr.191, lost by an officer of Lee's general staff, by a Union soldier on September 12,1862. The document, that revealed Lee's plan of campaign, was delivered to General McClellan the following day, 13th at noon. Lee received intelligence of what happened within a few hours, but, relying on McClellan's well known slowness, decided not to change anything of his plan. He then ordered to the divisions which had already surrounded Harper's Ferry, to go further on their action. In this way, what would hav been a serious problem for the confederates, didn't materialize.. The Harper's Ferry's Federal garrison surrendered o the morning of September 15th, leaving on the field 12,520 prisoners, 73 guns and 19,000 small arms.
