WI: John Wool as the AoTP commander

[m0585]

I've been reading a lot lately on U.S. Major General John E. Wool. Despite the fact that he was 77 in 1861, he was still reasonably fit and, unlike General in Chief Winfield Scott, could still ride a horse reasonably well. Wool thought General McClellan was not aggressive enough in his push towards Richmond and in May 1862, he sent troops to occupy the Navy yard and Norfolk, with Abraham Lincoln personally witnessing his initiative and aggressiveness in movement. He was retired by Lincoln in 1863 due to his age.

So with instead, Lincoln, needing an aggressive commander names Wool as commander of the Army of the Potomac in 1862?

 

[m0585]

Any thoughts at all?

 

[Arnold d.c]

After McClellan's relief? From the information available to Lincoln, it would seem bizarre that the solution would be to pull an outsider of the Army of the Potomac to take command of it. John E. Wool had at most led a division in action in the Mexican-American War and was recognized for his bravery. However, by then Lincoln has a number of candidates to command the Army of the Potomac who are already working in said army with the experience of leading corps. The capture of Norfolk wasn't too impressive when one considers that the Peninsular Campaign triggered its abandonment and that Wool had long been interested in capturing the place. There isn't much evidence to say that Wool would perform much better than the OTL generals of the Army of the Potomac and would likely resign from old age or go out from the stress like Edwin Vose Sumner.

 

[m0585]

After McClellan's relief? From the information available to Lincoln, it would seem bizarre that the solution would be to pull an outsider of the Army of the Potomac to take command of it. John E. Wool had at most led a division in action in the Mexican-American War and was recognized for his bravery. However, by then Lincoln has a number of candidates to command the Army of the Potomac who are already working in said army with the experience of leading corps. The capture of Norfolk wasn't too impressive when one considers that the Peninsular Campaign triggered its abandonment and that Wool had long been interested in capturing the place. There isn't much evidence to say that Wool would perform much better than the OTL generals of the Army of the Potomac and would likely resign from old age or go out from the stress like Edwin Vose Sumner.

I think Wool showed more aggressiveness than McClellan did. Yes, there were many other generals that Lincoln could have selected for the AoTP, but Wool had just put himself on Lincoln's radar. The capture of Norfolk was impressive enough for Lincoln to promote Wool to major general in the Regular Army.

 

[Arnold d.c]

I think Wool showed more aggressiveness than McClellan did.

Sure but aggressiveness does not necessarily equate to skill. Edwin V. Sumner was another aggressive Old Army officer in the Army of the Potomac but still performed poorly. Age was and is a serious problem for an officer in the field; plenty of younger officers had their health breakdown and needed time to recuperate. At Wool’s very advanced age, Lincoln’s concern for his health was rational.

Yes, there were many other generals that Lincoln could have selected for the AoTP, but Wool had just put himself on Lincoln's radar. The capture of Norfolk was impressive enough for Lincoln to promote Wool to major general in the Regular Army.

Frankly speaking, the promotion seems to be just a reward for the capture of an abandoned naval base for an old officer nearing the end of his career. It seems that Wool was transferred to a less demanding role around June 1862. In the meanwhile, Lincoln has two candidates to replace McClellan. He has Joe Hooker, a candidate very much favoured by Republicans, and Burnside, the officer who captured Roanoke Island, Fort Macon, and New Bern in his North Carolina expedition and was thought of as a man of good qualities.

 

[m0585]

Wool showed great leadership in commanding a division in the Mexican American War (being recognized by Congress for his actions), so I think he had some skill. Many commanders in the Civil war has little experience in commanding anything larger than a regiment at best, so that's no necessarily a strike against Wool. Yes, his age could have been a problem, especially if experiencing the stress of commanding an army. Still, he might have surprised the political leadership; especially given their constant frustrations with McClellan and his ponderous advances.

 

[Deleted member 9338]

As Lincoln is looking for a commander for the AotP there is no reason to discount Wool, he may be better than Mac, but was he good enough for the campaign. When do you do the switch?

 

[Old1812]

Would Wood's actions at Buena Vista provide a clue to his command style, or was Taylor making all the major decisions there?