How did the Union's War Department hinder General Grant's 1864 campaign?

Answer 1

General in Chief US Grant was not given the free hand he had expected when he accepted the promotion to general in chief. He had ambitious plans in 1864 but part of them never materialized because his projected raids from the east coast did not develop. The force that he intended to attack Mobile, Alabama and then march up the Alabama River were instead used in the failed Red River campaign in Arkansas. To make matters worse, the Union force had trouble extricating itself to hook up with the accompanying Union fleet.President Lincoln and General Halleck vetoed Grant's recommendation for a coastal landing in North Carolina to break up the Rebel's north-south railways and to capture the elusive Southern port of Wilmington. Lincoln believed that the 60,000 troops that Grant required were "not available" and more importantly, Lincoln believed it would conflict with Lincoln's strategy to deal with Lee's army in Virginia.

It seems they saw Grant's plans as a way to capture Richmond, however, Grant planned to cripple Lee's supply lines. This was not the first time that smart military plans were canceled due to more important political goals.