After the foiled Peninsular campaign, Lincoln and Joint Chiefs of Staff decided a mandatory change of command was necessary. Lincoln decided that on July 11, 1862, Henry W. Halleck in charge of all Northern Forces, demoting McClellan due to his ineffectiveness and inactivity. Halleck took over and united the forces, and put John Pope in charge of the eastern front.
Pope, due to his incompetence, marched straight into a trap...
