Major General Henry W. Halleck was President Lincoln's replacement for the over-stepping General Fremont in Missouri. In a number of letters to Washington DC, he expressed grave concern about the Border-slave state. Confederate General Sterling Price in northwestern Arkansas was trying to convince Jefferson Davis that with a sizable army he, with the help of Southern sympathizing Missouri militias could take and hold three quarters of Missouri. Halleck, with the aid of generals Pope and Curtis were gathering pro-Union militias to thwart any Confederate threat to the key state of Missouri.
When President Lincoln promoted Major General Henry W. Halleck as the new general in chief, Halleck had more than one problem confronting him. Part of the reason for this was that after Lincoln removed McClellan from the general in chief position, too many months passed before Lincoln designated Halleck to fill this crucial position. Lincoln and Secretary of War Stanton took on that role to the detriment of the Union's war efforts. Aside from the disaster of the Peninsula campaign and what to do with Major General George B. McClellan, Halleck faced problems in the West. His departure from the West caused a loss of unity in that critical area. Halleck had no real candidates to fill his old position and had resolved to reorganize the Western department. He also faced the new political pressures that Washington DC presented to him.
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.
On July 25, 1862, General in Chief Henry W. Halleck, accompanied by Major General Ambrose Burnside visited Harrison's Landing to confer with General McClellan. Halleck's purpose is to pressure McClellan to do "something". Halleck orders McClellan to advance against Richmond or withdraw from the Peninsula and send troops to join Major General Pope's Army of Virginia. McClellan commits to nothing. He is placing himself and General Pope's mission in jeopardy.
General Halleck was General US Grants superior officer at the time of the Battle of Shiloh. Grant's failure to entrench his army upon landing at Pittsburg Landing was a major error that could have caused a Federal defeat. Halleck was infuriated and took control of Grant's army and led it to Corinth, Mississippi.
Major General Henry Wager Halleck, commander of the sector of Missouri, made up by the territory running from Missouri, through the areas east of Mississippi up to the confluence of the River Cumberland with the River Ohio. He was in charge of all warfare and Union generals in the West.
In 1863, General in Chief Henry Halleck had appointed Major General John Scofield as the commanding officer of the Department of Missouri. Scofield was a New Yorker and a graduate of West Point. Missouri was an important border state and a slave state. It was vital that Missouri and other border states remained in the Union.
When President Lincoln promoted Major General Henry W. Halleck as the new general in chief, Halleck had more than one problem confronting him. Part of the reason for this was that after Lincoln removed McClellan from the general in chief position, too many months passed before Lincoln designated Halleck to fill this crucial position. Lincoln and Secretary of War Stanton took on that role to the detriment of the Union's war efforts. Aside from the disaster of the Peninsula campaign and what to do with Major General George B. McClellan, Halleck faced problems in the West. His departure from the West caused a loss of unity in that critical area. Halleck had no real candidates to fill his old position and had resolved to reorganize the Western department. He also faced the new political pressures that Washington DC presented to him.
In the early part of the US Civil War, President Lincoln was upset with the political operations of General Fremont in Missouri. At one point Fremont, declared that Missouri slaves were now "free". This was beyond the jurisdiction of any Union general. Halleck, an experienced West Point (USMA ) graduate was sent to St. Louis as Fremont's replacement.
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.
Although President Lincoln had appointed Major General Henry W. Halleck to command Union forces in the West, Halleck had never personally commanded a large army. Halleck's major strength was that of a tactician. After the Union victory at the Battle of Shiloh, Halleck lost confidence in General Grant. Immediately after the Battle of Shiloh, he left his headquarters in St. Louis to command the armies of generals Grant, Buell and Pope. Halleck was then personally in command of a force of over 100,000 troops.
On July 25, 1862, General in Chief Henry W. Halleck, accompanied by Major General Ambrose Burnside visited Harrison's Landing to confer with General McClellan. Halleck's purpose is to pressure McClellan to do "something". Halleck orders McClellan to advance against Richmond or withdraw from the Peninsula and send troops to join Major General Pope's Army of Virginia. McClellan commits to nothing. He is placing himself and General Pope's mission in jeopardy.
Major General Henry W. Halleck was placed in charge of the Western Theater of the US iCvil War. After the near defeat at the Battle of Shiloh, Halleck left his headquarters in St. Louis to personally command the armies now at Shiloh. He formed a 100,000 man army by adding the troops of General Pope to his own. The major problem was that Halleck had never commanded a force larger than a platoon. His objective was to confront the Rebel forces of PT Beauregard, who had escaped from Shiloh and was headed to Corinth, Mississippi.
General Halleck was General US Grants superior officer at the time of the Battle of Shiloh. Grant's failure to entrench his army upon landing at Pittsburg Landing was a major error that could have caused a Federal defeat. Halleck was infuriated and took control of Grant's army and led it to Corinth, Mississippi.
Major General Henry Wager Halleck was one of the key Union generals during the US Civil War. At one time US President Lincoln named him general in chief, replacing George McClellan. Halleck taught French at West Point.
Major General Albert S. Sidney was killed on the first day of the Battle of Shiloh in 1862. Union General Halleck took over the armies of general grant and Buell and pursued the Rebels to Corinth. On May 30, 1862, the Rebels abandoned Corinth to Halleck.
Major General Henry Wager Halleck, commander of the sector of Missouri, made up by the territory running from Missouri, through the areas east of Mississippi up to the confluence of the River Cumberland with the River Ohio. He was in charge of all warfare and Union generals in the West.
Major General Henry Wager Halleck had an excellent background that qualified him to be President Lincoln's choice to be the Union's general in chief. Halleck's experience prepared him to handle the strategic, logistical and administrative requirements of this difficult position. After completing his "Elements of Military Art and Science", he made a deep study into the operations of Napoleon. During his long Mexican War voyage to California via Cape Horn, he translated Henri Jomini's works on Napoleon. He completed this four volume work during the trip it was not published until 1864. He possessed a high degree of knowledge of military history and theory. He accumulated within self his own particular offensive strategies that worked well as the commander of the Union's Western Theater. His forces in southwest Missouri gradually pushed Confederate General Sterling Price out of Missouri. Under Halleck, damage done by local insurgents was minimized. Major General Sherman had high praise for Halleck. Under Halleck's direction General Grant assaulted forts Henry and Donelson. This takes nothing away from Grant. His successes in the West gave him a high profile in the East. Lincoln recognized his value and appointed him to the vacant general in chief position.