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What was the reason President Lincoln assigned the defense of Washington DC to Major General George B McClellan in 1862?
Despite the debacle of the failed Peninsula campaign and the alleged failure of Major General George B. McClellan to promptly respond to the direct orders of General in Chief Henry W. Halleck to help General Pope at the Battle of Second Manssas, President Lincoln appointed McClellan to take command of the armies that were defending Washington DC. This shocked both Lincoln's cabinet, some news media and most Republicans.Lincoln made this decision for two reasons. One was that Lincoln recognized, with due correctness, that the armies needed a commander who was a proven organizer. Secondly, Lincoln realized that armies in the Eastern Theater, especially soldiers in the Army of the Potomac loved and respected McClellan. Whatever his faults, which were legion, his intension was always to protect his men.
As seen later in the war, other generals were quite willing to sacrifice Northern soldiers to meet the desired goal of ending the Southern rebellion.
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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.
What caused General McClellan to warn General in Chief Winfield Scott that Washington DC was in grave danger in 1861?
On August 8, 1861 Major General George B. McClellan was alarmed that Washington DC was in serious danger. He informed General in Chief Winfield Scott that the capitol was about to face 100,000 Rebel soldiers. At this time, that was double the size of the Army of the Potomac that McClellan was training. It is believed now that the the source of this vital information was from the Pinkerton detective agency that McClellan had first contacted when he was stationed in Ohio, before President Lincoln called him to Washington DC.
What future Union secretary of war was an early ally of General McClellan?
General George B. McClellan believed that General in Chief Winfield Scott and President Lincoln were among a group in Washington DC that failed to properly recognize the gravity of the military situation the Union was in the Fall of 1861. McClellan, however had an ally in Edward M. Stanton. He was a fellow Democrat and a former member of President Buchanan's cabinet. The draft of McClellan's major strategy paper of October 1861 to Secretary of War, Simon Cameron reveals that it was written in part by Edwin Stanton. Apparently McClellan visited Stanton's home in Washington DC in an effort to avoid having to answer questions from President Lincoln's close friends and associates.
What was the first task assigned to General in Chief Henry W Halleck?
The first task assigned to the new Union general in chief, Henry W. Halleck was to visit General George B. McClellan at Harrison's Landing and urge him to reinvest his army in another attempt to either capture Richmond, or place it under siege. President Lincoln gave Halleck the authority to relieve McClellan of his dutirs as commander of the Army of the Potomac if he chose to do so.
How did General In Chief George B. McClellan plan to protect Washington DC while he was fighting in the Peninsula?
The US Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton wanted to know from General George B. McClellan, his plans for protecting Washington DC while the main part of the Army of the Potomac was engaged in battle in the Peninsula campaign. Both he and US President Lincoln were concerned that while McClellan was in Virginia fighting his Peninsula campaign that there was a possibility of a Confederate assault on Washington DC.McClellan outlined for Stanton his plans for this. The troops he would leave in and around Washington DC would number 55,500 including the 35,000 troops in the Shenandoah. As General in Chief, McClellan assumed that all of these troops would remain under his command as he parted for Fort Monroe.
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.
When did US President Abraham Lincoln realize that Union General George B McClellan left less than twenty thousand troops to guard Washington DC?
On April 3, 1862, US President Lincoln is upset that General George B. McClellan has left less than 20,000 troops to guard Washington DC. McClellan was concerned about his Peninsula Campaign. Lincoln refuses to allow any of General McDowell's forces to join McClellan. This causes a rift between Lincoln and McClellan.
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.
What caused General McClellan to warn General in Chief Winfield Scott that Washington DC was in grave danger in 1861?
On August 8, 1861 Major General George B. McClellan was alarmed that Washington DC was in serious danger. He informed General in Chief Winfield Scott that the capitol was about to face 100,000 Rebel soldiers. At this time, that was double the size of the Army of the Potomac that McClellan was training. It is believed now that the the source of this vital information was from the Pinkerton detective agency that McClellan had first contacted when he was stationed in Ohio, before President Lincoln called him to Washington DC.
When did George B. McClellan serve as the Union's general in chief?
President Lincoln appointed Major General George B. McClellan to general in chief on November 1, 1861. He replaced the retiring General in Chief Winfield Scott. Lincoln relieved McClellan of his title on March 11, 1862. McClellan was not in Washington DC at this time. He was in the process of organizing the Peninsula campaign. It is written that Lincoln did not believe that McClellan could hold his position as general in chief and conduct the Peninsula campaign at the same time.
What future Union secretary of war was an early ally of General McClellan?
General George B. McClellan believed that General in Chief Winfield Scott and President Lincoln were among a group in Washington DC that failed to properly recognize the gravity of the military situation the Union was in the Fall of 1861. McClellan, however had an ally in Edward M. Stanton. He was a fellow Democrat and a former member of President Buchanan's cabinet. The draft of McClellan's major strategy paper of October 1861 to Secretary of War, Simon Cameron reveals that it was written in part by Edwin Stanton. Apparently McClellan visited Stanton's home in Washington DC in an effort to avoid having to answer questions from President Lincoln's close friends and associates.
What was the first task assigned to General in Chief Henry W Halleck?
The first task assigned to the new Union general in chief, Henry W. Halleck was to visit General George B. McClellan at Harrison's Landing and urge him to reinvest his army in another attempt to either capture Richmond, or place it under siege. President Lincoln gave Halleck the authority to relieve McClellan of his dutirs as commander of the Army of the Potomac if he chose to do so.
Why did Abraham Lincoln withold troops from general george B. mcclellan even as he pushed the general to attack?
Lincoln wanted enough troops to remain near Washington DC to defend it from Confederate attack. McClellan had taken almost all of the Army of the Potomac into Virginia, and as shown later in the war, a determined Southern attack could force a large contingent to hurriedly return to Washington to protect the capital. The capital cities of Richmond and Washington are only about 100 miles apart.
How did General In Chief George B. McClellan plan to protect Washington DC while he was fighting in the Peninsula?
The US Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton wanted to know from General George B. McClellan, his plans for protecting Washington DC while the main part of the Army of the Potomac was engaged in battle in the Peninsula campaign. Both he and US President Lincoln were concerned that while McClellan was in Virginia fighting his Peninsula campaign that there was a possibility of a Confederate assault on Washington DC.McClellan outlined for Stanton his plans for this. The troops he would leave in and around Washington DC would number 55,500 including the 35,000 troops in the Shenandoah. As General in Chief, McClellan assumed that all of these troops would remain under his command as he parted for Fort Monroe.
When General George B McClellan take control of Federal forces in Washington DC?
US President Abraham Lincoln summoned General George McClellan to the capital. McClellan took charge of Federal troops in Washington DC on July 26, 1861. At that time he became Lincoln's most influential military adviser. In consultation with Lincoln and General Scott, McClellan developed a general plan of operations that he envisioned to be the actions of of the Union's strategic course of action. As with any military plans, the movements of Southern forces, would alter the Union's general plans. With that said, McClellan's overall initial strategies would become the basis of Federal operations against the Confederacy.
Who was the democratic nominee for president in the 1864 election?
General George McClellan, although he was lukewarm about the Democratic Party platform in that election.
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.
