By Hardy Kenwright
False
Dawns
The
prime command of the Union’s main army has been taken up by several Generals
over the last three years. After McDowell came McClellen, followed by Burnside,
Hooker and Meade. With each new appointment came hope of a decisive
breakthrough in North Virginia, with the prospect of a final victory. Each time
a real possibility seemed to present itself the prospect turned out to be false
dawn and the opportunity slipped away.
A
New Broom
President
Abraham Lincoln believes that he has found the answer to the stalemate in
Virginia. Despite having only been made a Major General on 16th
October last year, General Grant has been recalled to Washington and on 2nd
March promoted to Lieutenant General with command of ‘all’ Union Armies.
Grant’s new rank has only previously been held by George Washington. Having
achieved great success at Vicksburg and Chattanooga last year, The President
sees this no compromising commander as the key to galvanising the war effort in
the critical Eastern theatre.
Good
Raport
It
seems that the ‘Commander in Chief and his Commander in Chief have already developed a good working relationship
during their weekly meetings, with Mr. Lincoln allowing Lt. Gen. Grant free
rein to devise his own strategy. We look forward with interest to a Spring
campaign.
