B-17engineer
Colonel
Since we know the 'hero' of the Union was Ulysses S. Grant, the study in school were doing as of now is a bit interesting....
We are learning as of now of the commanders of Union forces who were not nearly as successful.
The first of those is George McClellan: (1861-1862)
McClellan was thirty-four when he was given command of the Union forces. His plan was to go by sea and take Richmond and other key cities but keep resistance to a minimum to show the Union would not interfere with the current slaves. The reconnaissance reports he got completely exaggerated the number of Confederate soldiers which delayed his action because he needed more troops. Due to early battles being lost McClellan was investigated by a committee to see how the war was being fought. During the meeting he said his actions are delayed because he needed to plan routes of retreat. After being essentially called a sissy after that statement he walked out of the room. After the meeting Lincoln had to force McClellan into action. He issued General War Order #1 it forced McClellan to begin an offensive. McClellans idea was to take Richmond from the east and was voted in favor of by commanders. Lincoln decided to remove McClellan from command because he was too cautious.
What was he famous for?
The Battle of Antietam where he beat Lee's army back. Lincoln was infuriated with McClellan because he did not proceed to follow Lee's battered army and he let them slip away. If he had followed Lee some say the war could have possibly ended in 1862...
Ambrose Burnside (1862-1863)
Ambrose Burnside was given command of the Union Army after the more conservative McClellan was removed. Lincoln, tired of his previous general being to cautious, pressure Burnside into aggressive action and approved of his plan to capture Richmond. Burnside approached Fredericksburg very rapidly but he waited to deploy troops. He could have sent men across fording points but he waited for pontoon bridges which gave the Confederate army time to prepare. It allowed Lee to repulse attacks coming from the west without having to worry about his other sides. The south part of the town where the Unions main attacks were focused were disorganized and when a breakthrough of Rebel lines occurred they went unsupported. Burnside was upset with his failure and tried a second campaign in Winter but this was bogged down. He offered to resign and Lincoln accepted that idea. He then was replaced with Joseph Hooker who actually conspired against Burnside.
What was he famous for?
The Battle of Fredericksburg and his choice not to send parts of his army through fording points. This caused many men dead since the Confederates could freely move about and repulse attacks from any direction.
Joseph Hooker(1863)
Joseph Hooker was different than the two generals before him. He had ambitious plans that he could crush the Rebels and be very bold. His plan of attack called for calvary to strike deep in the south and disrupt the rebels supply lines and distract Lee from the main attack. He would command an army going for Lee's flank. The calvary commander Brigadier General Stoneman conducted his raid with extreme caution. None of his objectives were accomplished. The march went surprisingly well and Hooker had the element of surprise but decided not to attack when he got enemy reports. Instead he stopped his army at a town named Chancellorsville and waited for Lee. Lee's army blew past Hookers army and began their invasion of the north. Lincoln asked Hooker to pursue and defeat Lee. Like the two before him Hooker was to cautious and decided to protect Washington instead. Lincoln lost his confidence and he to was replaced.
What he was famous for?
The battle of Chancellorsville. His men were passed by Lee's and Lee began his invasion of the north.
George Meade(1863-1864)
George Meade was the probably the best of the three previous men. George Meade was given command right before Gettysburg. At the small town Confederate soldiers were looking for shoes when they ran into parts of the Union army. Meade was pushed back on the first day of the battle. The second day his men dug in on Cemetery ridge and fought off attack from the Confederate troops. On the Third day Lee ordered a charge and the daring Rebel general Pickett charged. 7500 of his 15000 men were killed in the charged. Meade was celebrated for driving Lee out of the North. For some reason he did not pursue. Lincoln and others criticized him for his conservative attitude. Meade was not pressured to leave. He resigned after Grant was given command. Grant offered to let him serve under him but Meade was not happy and this lead to bad attitudes between the two.
What was he famous for?
The battle of Gettysburg where he drove back Rebel forces out of the North territory
Then you have GRANT!!
We are learning as of now of the commanders of Union forces who were not nearly as successful.
The first of those is George McClellan: (1861-1862)
McClellan was thirty-four when he was given command of the Union forces. His plan was to go by sea and take Richmond and other key cities but keep resistance to a minimum to show the Union would not interfere with the current slaves. The reconnaissance reports he got completely exaggerated the number of Confederate soldiers which delayed his action because he needed more troops. Due to early battles being lost McClellan was investigated by a committee to see how the war was being fought. During the meeting he said his actions are delayed because he needed to plan routes of retreat. After being essentially called a sissy after that statement he walked out of the room. After the meeting Lincoln had to force McClellan into action. He issued General War Order #1 it forced McClellan to begin an offensive. McClellans idea was to take Richmond from the east and was voted in favor of by commanders. Lincoln decided to remove McClellan from command because he was too cautious.
What was he famous for?
The Battle of Antietam where he beat Lee's army back. Lincoln was infuriated with McClellan because he did not proceed to follow Lee's battered army and he let them slip away. If he had followed Lee some say the war could have possibly ended in 1862...
Ambrose Burnside (1862-1863)
Ambrose Burnside was given command of the Union Army after the more conservative McClellan was removed. Lincoln, tired of his previous general being to cautious, pressure Burnside into aggressive action and approved of his plan to capture Richmond. Burnside approached Fredericksburg very rapidly but he waited to deploy troops. He could have sent men across fording points but he waited for pontoon bridges which gave the Confederate army time to prepare. It allowed Lee to repulse attacks coming from the west without having to worry about his other sides. The south part of the town where the Unions main attacks were focused were disorganized and when a breakthrough of Rebel lines occurred they went unsupported. Burnside was upset with his failure and tried a second campaign in Winter but this was bogged down. He offered to resign and Lincoln accepted that idea. He then was replaced with Joseph Hooker who actually conspired against Burnside.
What was he famous for?
The Battle of Fredericksburg and his choice not to send parts of his army through fording points. This caused many men dead since the Confederates could freely move about and repulse attacks from any direction.
Joseph Hooker(1863)
Joseph Hooker was different than the two generals before him. He had ambitious plans that he could crush the Rebels and be very bold. His plan of attack called for calvary to strike deep in the south and disrupt the rebels supply lines and distract Lee from the main attack. He would command an army going for Lee's flank. The calvary commander Brigadier General Stoneman conducted his raid with extreme caution. None of his objectives were accomplished. The march went surprisingly well and Hooker had the element of surprise but decided not to attack when he got enemy reports. Instead he stopped his army at a town named Chancellorsville and waited for Lee. Lee's army blew past Hookers army and began their invasion of the north. Lincoln asked Hooker to pursue and defeat Lee. Like the two before him Hooker was to cautious and decided to protect Washington instead. Lincoln lost his confidence and he to was replaced.
What he was famous for?
The battle of Chancellorsville. His men were passed by Lee's and Lee began his invasion of the north.
George Meade(1863-1864)
George Meade was the probably the best of the three previous men. George Meade was given command right before Gettysburg. At the small town Confederate soldiers were looking for shoes when they ran into parts of the Union army. Meade was pushed back on the first day of the battle. The second day his men dug in on Cemetery ridge and fought off attack from the Confederate troops. On the Third day Lee ordered a charge and the daring Rebel general Pickett charged. 7500 of his 15000 men were killed in the charged. Meade was celebrated for driving Lee out of the North. For some reason he did not pursue. Lincoln and others criticized him for his conservative attitude. Meade was not pressured to leave. He resigned after Grant was given command. Grant offered to let him serve under him but Meade was not happy and this lead to bad attitudes between the two.
What was he famous for?
The battle of Gettysburg where he drove back Rebel forces out of the North territory
Then you have GRANT!!
IMHO
