General Henry Halleck Archives

Today In Western History: Lincoln Signs War Order #3

Posted on March 11, 2016March 7, 2016 by larry

March 11 —

On this day in 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issues War Order No. 3, a measure making several changes at the top of the Union Army command structure. Lincoln divided the war into sections and created three departments, placing Henry Wager Halleck in charge of the

General Henry W. ("Old Brains") Halleck — General Henry W. (“Old Brains”) Halleck

West, John C. Fremont in command of troops in the Appalachian region, and George McClellan in charge in the East.

John C. Fremont, The Great Pathfinder" — John C. Fremont, The Great Pathfinder”

The most significant change in the order removed McClellan from his post as general-in-chief of all Union armies, though he retained command of the Army of the Potomac, the most important Union force. McClellan had assumed leadership of that army after it was defeated at the First Battle of Bull Run, Virginia, in July 1861. He quickly installed an efficient command structure and began training an effective fighting force. Three months later, Lincoln elevated McClellan to general-in-chief. However, the relationship between the president and his commanding officer was strained and some-times contentious. The arrogant McClellan was contemptuous of the president and often ignored Lincoln’s communica-tions or kept information from him. McClellan was stretched thin as general-in-chief, and even he recognized this fact. He was bothered by the March 1862 demotion, but wrote to Lincoln that he would “work just as cheerfully as ever before, and… no consideration of self will in any manner interfere with the discharge of my public duties.” For McClellan, this was a rare show of grace and deference towards Lincoln. The move allowed McClellan to spend more time planning his upcoming campaign against the Confederate capital at Richmond, Virginia.

For a time, there was no general-in-chief, and the three regional commanders reported to Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. The post did not stay empty for long, though, as Halleck was elevated to general-in-chief five months later.

To purchase a signed copy of Larry Auerbach’s novel “THE SPIRIT OF REDD MOUNTAIN”, Click Here

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Today In Western History: The Battle Of Pea Ridge Ends

Posted on March 8, 2016March 7, 2016 by larry

On this day in 1862, Union forces under General Samuel Curtis finish the Battle of Pea Ridge (known as the Battle of Elkhorn Tavern by the

Confederates) that was begun the day before, ending with a victory for the Union forces. Pea Ridge was part of a larger campaign for control of Missouri. Seven months earlier, the Confederates defeated a Union force at Wilson’s Creek, some 70 miles northeast of Pea Ridge. General Henry Halleck, the Fed-eral commander in Missouri, now organized an expedition to drive the Confederates from south-western Missouri. In

February 1862, Yankee General Samuel Curtis led the 12,000-man army toward Springfield, Missouri. Confederate General Sterling Price retreated from the city with 8,000 troops in the face of the Union advance. Price withdrew into Arkansas, and Curtis followed him. Price

hooked up with another Rebel force led by General Ben McCulloch, and their combined army was placed under the leadership of General Earl Van Dorn, recently appointed commander of Confederate forces in the trans-Mississippi area. Van Dorn joined Price and McCulloch on March 2, 1862, and he then ordered an advance on Curtis’ army. Curtis received word of the approaching Confederates and concentrated his force

around Elkhorn Tavern. Van Dorn sent part of his army on a march around the Yankees. On March 7, McCulloch slammed into the rear of the Union force, but Curtis anticipated the move and turned his men towards the attack. McCulloch was killed during the battle, and the

Confederate attack withered. Meanwhile, the other part of Van Dorn’s army attacked the front of Curtis’ command. Through bitter fighting the Union troops held their ground. Curtis, suspecting that the Confederates were low on ammunition, attacked the divided Rebel army the following morning. Van Dorn realized he was in danger and ordered a retreat, ending the battle. The Yankees suffered some 1,380 men killed, wounded, or captured out of 10,000 engaged; the Confederates suffered a loss of about 2,000 out of 14,000 engaged. The Union won a decisive victory that also helped them clear the upper Mississippi Valley region on the way to securing control of the Mississippi River by mid-1863.

To purchase a signed copy of Larry Auerbach’s novel “THE SPIRIT OF REDD MOUNTAIN”, Click Here

Photo courtesy of wikipedia.com

Today In Western History: The Battle of Pea Ridge Begins

Posted on March 7, 2016February 13, 2016 by larry

March 7 —

On this day in 1862, Union forces under Union General. Samuel R. Curtis begin a major fight with the army of Con-

federate General Earl Van Dorn at the Battle of Pea Ridge (also called the Battle of Elkhorn Tavern), in northwest Arkansas. The following day, the battle ended in defeat for the Confederates. Pea Ridge was part of a much larger campaign for control of Missouri. Seven months earlier, the Confederates defeated a Union force at Wilson’s Creek, some 70 miles northeast of Pea Ridge. General Henry Halleck, the Federal commander in Missouri, now organized

an expedition to drive the Confederates from southwestern Missouri. In February 1862, Yankee General Samuel

Curtis led the 12,000-man army toward Springfield, Missouri. Confederate General Sterling Price retreated from the city with 8,000 troops in the face of the Union advance. Price withdrew into Arkansas, and Curtis followed him. Price hooked up with another Rebel force led by General Ben McCulloch, and their combined army was placed

under the leadership of General Earl Van Dorn, recently appointed commander of Confederates forces in the trans-

Mississippi area. Van Dorn joined Price and McCulloch on March 2, 1862, and ordered an advance on Curtis’ army. Curtis received word of the approaching Confederates and concentrated his force around Elkhorn Tavern. Van Dorn sent part of his army on a march around the Yankees. On March 7, McCulloch slammed into the rear of the Union force, but Curtis anticipated the move and turned his men towards the attack. McCulloch was killed during the battle, and the Confederate attack withered. Meanwhile, the other part of Van Dorn’s army attacked the front of Curtis’ command. Through bitter fighting the Union troops held their ground.

Curtis, suspecting that the Confederates were low on ammunition, attacked the divided Rebel army the following morning. Van Dorn realized he was in danger and ordered a retreat, ending the battle. The Yankees suffered some 1,380 men killed, wounded, or captured out of 10,000 engaged; the Confederates suffered a loss of about 2,000 out of 14,000 engaged. The Union won a decisive victory that also helped them clear the upper Mississippi Valley region on the way to securing control of the Mississippi River by mid-1863.

To purchase a signed copy of Larry Auerbach’s novel “THE SPIRIT OF REDD MOUNTAIN”, Click Here

Photo courtesy of wikipedia.com

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Tag: General Henry Halleck

Today In Western History: Lincoln Signs War Order #3

Today In Western History: The Battle Of Pea Ridge Ends

Today In Western History: The Battle of Pea Ridge Begins