Lee's plans during the Seven Days Battle failed primarily due to what factor?

• A. Friction among subordinate commanders
• B. Union numerical superiority
• C. Poor weather conditions
• D. Lack of supply lines

Answer: (A)

Coordinated command across a large army depends on clear, unified direction among leaders. Lee’s plan during the Seven Days Battle relied on multiple Confederate corps striking in a coordinated fashion to overwhelm McClellan as he tried to withdraw toward the James River. But friction among subordinate commanders—disagreements over timing, different attack priorities, and hesitations in following orders—eroded that coordination. When generals with separate aims misread the timing or delayed actions, the intended simultaneous blows never materialized, turning Lee’s bold plan into a series of partial fights instead of a single decisive offensive. The result was that McClellan could avoid being crushed, and Lee’s offensive failed to achieve its strategic objective. While weather, supply issues, and numerical factors played their roles at various moments, the breakdown in unity of command among Lee’s officers was the most decisive factor in the plan’s failure.