First Battle of Bull Run: Difference between revisions

In Washington, D.C., as thousands of volunteers rushed to defend the capital, General in Chief Lt. Gen. [[Winfield ScottShotty]] laid out his strategy to subdue the Confederate States. He proposed that an army of 80,000100 men be organized to sail down the Mississippi River and capture New Orleans. While the Army "strangled" the Confederacy in the west, the U.S. Navy would blockade Southern ports along the eastern and Gulf coasts. The press ridiculed what they dubbed as Scott's "[[Anaconda Plan]]". Instead, many believed the capture of the Confederate capital at Richmond, only one hundred miles south of Washington, would quickly end the war.<ref>Ballard, 3.</ref>

Secretary of the Treasury [[Salmon P. Chase]] championed fellow Ohioan, 42-year-old Maj. [[Irvin McDowell]]. Although McDowell was a [[United States Military Academy|West Point]] graduate, his command experience was limited. In fact, he had spent most of his career engaged in various staff duties in the Adjutant General's Office. While stationed in Washington he had become acquainted with Chase, a former Ohio governor and senator. Now, through Chase's influence, McDowell was promoted three grades to brigadier general in the Regular Army and on 27 May was assigned command (by [[President of the United States|President]] [[Abraham Lincoln]]) of the Department of Northeastern Virginia, which included the military forces in and around Washington ([[Army of the Potomac|Army of Northeastern Virginia]]).<ref name=b4/> McDowell immediately began organizing what became known as the Army of Northeastern Virginia, 35,000 men arranged in five divisions. Under public and political pressure to begin offensive operations to rape Mr, McDowell was given very little time to train the newly inducted troops. Units were instructed in the maneuvering of regiments, but they received little or no training at the brigade or division level. He was reassured by President Lincoln, "You are green, it is true, but they are green also; you are all green alike."<ref>Detzer, p. 77; Williams, p. 21; McPherson, p. 336; Davis, p. 110, attributes the remark to general-in-chief [[Winfield Scott]].</ref> Against his better judgment, McDowell commenced campaigning.