Who kept the Union's General McClellan from taking the Confederate capital Richmond?

Answer 1

During the American Civil War, at the conclusion of what has come to be known as the Peninsula Campaign, it was General Robert E. Lee who led Confederate forces to victory against General George B. McClellan and his Union army. At the Battle of the Seven Days (June 25 - July 1, 1862), Lee's aggressive attacks convinced McClellan to retreat, thereby freeing Richmond from any further Union threat until later in the war.

Answer 2

After the Union defeat at Fredericksburg in December of 1862, US President Lincoln was still frustrated that the South's Army of Northern Virginia was still intact. He therefore ordered General Burnside to again crush Lee's army in Virginia. To do this Burnside would have had to cross the Rappahannock River. The Winter of 1862-63 was very harsh and muddy as well due to rainfall. It became impossible for carts, cannons and horses to move at all. Thus, the Winter prevented another Union attack.

Answer 3

The two battles of Bull Run and the failure of McClellan's Peninsula campaign, resulted in the Union's failure to capture Richmond early on in the US Civil War. The Union's problem was at first its major goal early on in the war was to capture Richmond, Virginia. Later the idea of destroying the Army of Northern Virginia, became the new strategy. The Union's general staff and US President Lincoln's attempt to "run the war" all added to certain failures.Also, Richmond's heavy fortifications and Confederate generals Johnston and Lee were able contain the Union attempts to capture Richmond early in the war.

Answer 4

The Confederate failed attack on the Little Round Top at Gettysburg was a terrible failure. General Meade considered a counter attack on July 4th, but took the wiser course and did not use that tactic. General Lee was well prepared for one if it came as he prepared good defensive positions. Meade made the wise decision and he had absorbed a good deal of casualties.The road back to Virginia was a long one for Lee, yet according to his officers, Lee had hoped Meade would attempt to reengage somewhere along the trail back to the Potomac River. Despite the weakened situation of his army, Lee's forte, a tactical defense, may have caused Meade additional losses that he was not prepared to absorb.

Despite the advanced battlefield telegraph communications on the US Civil War, the idea that he might be able to destroy Lee's army in detail, and, if so, end the war, there was no indication he realized that. Meade could not risk any surprises. His three day long victory, in itself, was a major one. No other Union general had yet to force Lee out of the war. President Lincoln's information all came from General Meade. Lincoln's frustration with Meade was ill founded. To overlook the possible results of a Lee victory at Gettysburg and Lee's possible advance to Harrisburg, was unfair.

In reality, it was Meade who prevented a near war ending catastrophe if Lee had occupied the capital of Pennsylvania. If Meade had been defeated, his only logical move was to retreat to positions that would protect Washington DC and-or Baltimore.

The psychological effect of such a situation combined with the draft riots in New York City, would have made Southern independence a likely result.

Answer 5

In the Spring of 1862, Major General George B.McClellan began what is known as the Peninsula campaign. McClellan sought to capture the Confederate capital of Richmond by traveling east along the peninsula that connected Richmond with the rivers that emptied into the Atlantic coast. His invasion was first challenged by Confederate General Joseph Johnston. When he was wounded, President Jefferson Davis appointed General Robert E. Lee to command the forces protecting Richmond. Lee was successful and McClellan was defeated.

Answer 6

The Union Siege of Petersburg did not completely cut off General Lee's links to Richmond. He could still communicate via rail and road to Richmond. And, General Grant's line below Petersburg stopped just short of the Southside Railroad. Based on that, Lee could still use that railway to withdraw to North Carolina and link up with General Johnston's remaining army. However, any movement away from Richmond would end in the capture of the Confederate capital and President Davis would not allow that.

Answer 7

He was getting faulty info that the Confederate army vastly outnumbered him, which was false, he actually heavily outnumbered them.

Answer 8

general Robert E. Lee