Grant - Attack N.C. not Richmond - Jan 1864

Major Gen. H. W. HALLECK,
January 18, 1864

GENERAL: I would respectfully suggest whether an abandonment of all previously attempted lines to Richmond is not advisable, and in lieu of these one be taken farther south. I would suggest Raleigh, N. C., as the objective point and Suffolk as the starting point. Raleigh once secured, I would make New Berne the base of supplies until Wilmington is secured.

A moving force of 60,000 men would probably be required to start on such an expedition. This force would not have to be increased unless Lee should withdraw from his present position. In that case the necessity for so large a force on the Potomac would not exist. A force moving from Suffolk would destroy first all the roads about Weldon, or even as far north as Hicksford. From Weldon to Raleigh they would scarcely meet with serious opposition. Once there, the most interior line of railway still left to the enemy, in fact the only one they would then have, would be so threatened as to force him t0 use a large portion of his army in guarding it.

This would virtually force an evacuation of Virginia and indirectly of East Tennessee. It would throw our armies into new fields, where they could partially live upon the country and would reduce the stores of the enemy.

It would cause thousands of the North Carolina troops to desert and return to their homes. It would give us possession of many Negroes who are now indirectly aiding the rebellion. It would draw the enemy from campaigns of their own choosing, and for which they are prepared, to new lines of operations never expected to become necessary. It would effectually blockade Wilmington, the port now of more value to the enemy than all the balance of their sea-coast. It would enable operations to commence at once by removing the war to a more southern climate, instead of months of inactivity in winter quarters.

Other advantages might be cited which would be likely to grow out of this plan, but these are enough. From your better opportunities of studying the country and the armies that would be involved in this plan, you will be better able to judge of the practicability of it than I possibly can.

I have written this in accordance with what I understand to be an invitation from you to express my views about military operations, and not to insist that any plan of mine should be carried out. Whatever course is agreed upon, I shall always believe is at least intended for the best, and until fully tested will hope to have it prove so. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

U. S. GRANT, Major-General

Abe Lincoln Visits to the Army of the Potomac

Apr. 1st 1862
Lincoln goes to Alexandria, Va. - meets with General McClellan,

May 5th - 12th 1862
Lincoln goes to Fortress Monroe, Va. meets with Wool, Burnside and Navy. Does not meet with McClellan

May 22nd - 23rd 1862
Lincoln visits McDowell at Fredericksburg

July 7th - 10th 1862
Lincoln takes boat to Fortress Monroe & Harrison's Landing - visits McClellan and Burnside.

Oct. 1st - 4th .1862
Lincoln visits Gen. McClellan and battlefields in vicinity of Antietam.

Nov. 26th - 27th 1862
Lincoln goes to Aquia Creek - confers with Burnside on steamer Baltimore.

April. 4th - 10th 1863
Visits Hooker and AoP at Falmouth

May 6th - 7th. 1863
Lincoln visits Gen. Hooker and the AoP after defeat at Chancellorsville.

June 20th - 23rd 1864
Lincoln visits Gen. Grant at City Point

July 30th - 31st 1864
Lincoln visits Gen. Grant at Fortress Monroe

March. 23rd - Apr. 6th. 1865

Lincoln visits Gen. Grant at City Point

Apr. 4th - 5th 1865

Lincoln visits the evacuated city of Richmond, Va.

Command Turnover in the Army of the Potomac

July 1862
Commander - McClellan
Corps Commanders - 8 (Banks, McDowell, Porter, Franklin, Keyes, Sumner, Burnside, Heintzelman)

Changes
-New Corps Commanders - 2 (Reno and Siegal)
-Deleted Commanders - 1 (Keyes transferred)

2nd Bull Run
Commander - Pope
Total Corps Commanders - 9

After Battle Changes
-New Corps Commanders - 2 (Added Hooker, Mansfield)
-Deleted Corps Commanders - 3 (Reno KIA, Banks & McDowell Transferred)

Antietam
Commander - McClellan
Total Corps Commanders - 8

After Battle Changes
-New Corps Commanders - 7 (Butterfield, Couch, Reynolds, Slocum, Smith, Stoneman, Wilcox)
-Deleted Corps Commanders - 3 (Porter Court-Martialed, Mansfield KIA , Burnside Promoted )

Fredericksburg
Commander - Burnside
Total Corps Commanders (includes Grand Division) - 11

After Battle Changes
-New Corps Commanders - 4 (Meade, Howard, Sickles, Sedgwick)
-Deleted Commanders - 7 (Hooker & Butterfield Promoted, Smith/Wilcox/Sumner/Franklin/Siegal Transferred)


Chancellorsville
Commander - Hooker
Total Corps Commanders - 8

After Battle Changes
-New Corps Commanders - 3 (Hancock, Sykes, Pleasonton)
-Old Commanders Gone - 3 (Couch & Stoneman Transferred - Meade Promoted)

Gettysburg
Commander - Meade
Total Corps Commanders - 8

After Battle Changes
-New Corps Commanders - 3 (Burnside, Warren, Sheridan)
-Old Commanders Gone - 6 (Reynolds KIA, Sickles WIA, Slocum/Howard/Sykes/Pleasonton Transferred)


Wilderness
Commander - Grant/Meade
Total Corps Commanders - 5

After Battle Changes
-New Corps Commanders - 2 (Smith, Wright)
-Old Commanders Gone - 1 (Sedgwick KIA)

Petersburg (July 1864)
Commander - Grant/Meade
Total Corps Commanders - 6

After Battle Changes
-New Corps Commanders - 2 (Ord, Parke)
-Old Commanders Gone -2 (Burnside & Smith Resigned)

Petersburg (Oct 1864)
Commander - Grant/Meade
Total Corps Commanders - 6