In early July of 1862, US President Lincoln summoned General Henry W. Halleck to come to Washington DC. Lincoln had already decided to give Halleck command of all Federal armies, which of course included General Geprge B. McClellan's Army of the Potomac. Halleck's fist assignment was to see if McClellan was willing to retry his assault on the Confederate capital of Richmond. Lincoln had focused on the fall of Richmond since the beginning of the war. Halleck was informed that McClellan would have to use the troops he already had. If McClellan refused, Halleck was to relieve him and withdraw the army back to Washington DC and an entirely new campaign could be formulated.
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.
President Lincoln believed the position of general in chief needed to be restored. With that said, he appointed General Henry Halleck to that position in July of 1862. Lincoln would come to regret that decision.
Ulysses S. Grant came after General Henry Halleck. This happened when Halleck was called to Washington to become the new Union general in chief.
Ulysses S. Grant came after General Henry Halleck. This happened when Halleck was called to Washington to become the new Union general in chief.
Ulysses S. Grant came after General Henry Halleck. This happened when Halleck was called to Washington to become the new Union general in chief.
US President Lincoln had faith in the abilities of General Henry W. Halleck. Lincoln created a new Department of the Mississippi. This was a large area and made Halleck the top general in the West.
US President Lincoln was impressed by General Halleck's performance in the West. He appointed him to be general in chief of all Union military forces on July 11, 1862. The previous general in chief had been General George B. McClellan.
When US President Lincoln called General Henry Halleck to Washington DC, to head the Union's war effort it may have been a mistake. One clear thing at once became evident, Halleck would now be drawn into the Virginia military, McClellan, Stanton and Lincoln web of Eastern Theater confusion.
Both US president Lincoln and General in Chief Henry Wager Halleck were displeased with general Joseph hooker. They believed that Hooker's response to Lee's crossing of the Potomac River was late and unresponsive to the needs of the Union. This required a change and Halleck's choice of General Meade to replace Hooker was in line with President Lincoln's views on the matter.
because they wanted beaten so hard the southerners .
President Lincoln had left the position of general in chief vacant since he had taken away that title from General George B. McClellan. On July 11, 1862, Lincoln named General Henry W. Halleck to be the Union's new general in chief.
After the removal of General George B. McClellan as general in chief, President Lincoln and Secretary of War Stanton tried to run the war without a general in chief. This was not a success so Lincoln consulted with some of his military advisors, including John Pope and General Winfield Scott. Both men suggested General Henry Halleck for the job. Lincoln then summoned Halleck, operating in the Western Theater to come to Washington. Apparently Halleck was unclear about President Lincoln's intentions. He politely refused to go to Washington unless he was given full control of the Eastern Theater. Lincoln informed Halleck that the entire army, east and west was under his control as the new general in chief. Halleck was aware of the political snafus in Washington DC. And, when he arrived he used his expert knowledge of military law to clarify the Second Confiscation Act passed by Congress on July 17,1862. On August 15, 1862 he issued General Orders No. 107. This was a proper military law clarification of the Confiscation Act. In the orders to his generals he carefully explained the procedures for seizing enemy property for government use and the organization and conduct of foraging parties. Halleck defined the difference between pillaging and looting and property lawfully taken from the enemy. All property seized had to be recorded and all officers were directly responsible for illegal activities of their troops. As an aside, it would be Halleck who would review the actions of General Sherman in Georgia.