What were the war plans of US President Lincoln as the Fall of 1861 began?

Answer 1

After the Union's defeat at the Battle of the First Run, Lincoln had a plan for the Fall of 1861. He envisioned a landing on the Atlantic coast and for troops from Ohio and Kentucky to invade eastern Tennessee. With these two major operations moving forward, he believed that Union forces in Missouri and Washington DC could take advantage of any openings the first two assaults might bring. He was sure that at least one of the two invasions could break through. Certainly under the advice of Union military leaders, it was Lincoln's belief that the Confederates would make use of their interior position and concentrate their forces on the Union invasion they saw as the most threatening. By pressing the offensive, the Rebels were surely be forced to retreat into fortifications, leaving the Union with great advantages.

Answer 2

With the Union army in a defensive posture in the Washington DC area, Lee had to focus on his main area of concern, Virginia as a whole, southeast Virginia and North Carolina. Lee could not remain without a strategy. He was fully aware of the troop number disadvantage he had and could not count on the North from making irrational decisions. The Northern newspapers and its people were unsatisfied with the progress of the war, so anything from Halleck was possible.In the event that the Union would once again march south towards Richmond he made plans.

To face a Union assault he would need to concentrate his forces.

He, however, chose to, in such a situation, not seek to engage in a major battle.

Instead he would place any and all obstacles in front of a Union advance. One tactic in this event would be to cut or interfere with the Army of the Potomac's lines of communications and supplies. He would seek to maneuver his army in such away as to confuse and baffle the enemy. Always staying clear of the Union's main force. He would as he told Confederate President Davis, look for a chance to attack, however, as usual throughout the war, there could be no decisive defeat of the Army of the Potomac.

With all that said, he banked on Halleck's common sense to not advance from the north. The political downside to another failed Union effort in the East would be unbearable for the Lincoln administration.

Lee then had to place attention on Southeast Virginia and North Carolina.