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General George B. McClellan was an excellent commander when it came to building and properly organizing troops. He displayed that when US President Lincoln summoned him to Washington DC in the Summer of 1861. McClellan was also a great military strategist. He made superb operational and battle strategies. His problems were over estimating the size of armies of the South he had to face and always asking for more troops. He mistakenly relied all too often on Allan Pinkerton to gage for him the troop strength of the Confederates. He was reluctant to march into battle unless he believed he had an overwhelming advantage. Additionally, he and US President Lincoln differed on the way to conduct the war. This eventually led to his battlefield career. He was dismissed from commanding the Army of the Potomac in November of 862 and was transferred to Trenton, NJ.

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9y ago
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9y ago

In general terms, Union General George B. McClellan was a huge disappointment to President Lincoln. McClellan had some notable victories, especially at the Battle of Antietam. As a whole, however, McClellan failed too many times when he had an advantage over his Southern opponents, and made excuses for his inability to carry on major campaigns along with his constant over estimation of Confederate troops.

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7y ago

Despite the overwhelming criticism of General George B. McClellan, he was an effective general. His main problem was a political one with President Lincoln. Also, if had been unable to cause General Lee to retreat after the Battle of Antietam, Washington DC would have been in danger.

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11y ago

He proved incapable of leading an inferior army.

He was overly cautious as battles neared.

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Q: Why was general mcclellan an ineffective leader?
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Why was Union General George G Meade loyal to his former commander General George B McClellan?

General Meade remained loyal to his former commander, George B. McClellan, even after Meade was appointed the leader of the Army of the Potomac. He, like McClellan outwardly criticized the political interference the military had to deal with concerning military issues.


Union leader at mechanicsville?

The Union Commander of the Army of the Potomac at the Battle of Fredericksburg was Ambrose Burnsides


Who was the confederate leader at Antietam?

George McClellan


What general replaced General George B McClellan after he delayed an attack on Robert E Lee after the Battle of Antietam?

After Antietam (Sept 17, 1862) when McClellan once again believed he needed time for his troops to rest. President Lincoln replaced him (on Nov 7) with General Ambrose Burnside. That was the end of McClellan's service as a Union military leader. As an aside, General Burnside felt uncomfortable replacing George B. McClellan. He had been loyal to him, also, he was not sure the command of the Army of the Potomac would be a fit for his abilities.


What two corps did General McClellan not send to reinforce General Pope's troops at Manassas?

Two corps of the Army of the Potomac were under General McClellan's control at Alexandria. They were General Sumner's Second Corps and General Franklin's Sixth Corps. This totaled 25,000 troops. McClellan saw General Pope as incompetent and did not want to waste good troops to save Pope's hopeless situation. General in Chief Henry W. Halleck ordered McClellan to send these troops to reinforce Pope. McClellan held back these troops as long as possible. McClellan also urged General Pope to not engage the Rebel troops and to retreat to the north.

Related questions

What side was mcclellan on?

George B. McClellan was a general who fought in the Civil War. He fought on the side of the Union Army, but is generally regarded as a somewhat ineffective military leader.


Who was the ineffective northern general and presidential candidate in the civil war?

George McClellan


Who were the key leaders in the battle of antitiem?

The Confederates' leader was General E Lee and the Yankees' leader was General George McClellan


Who was the union leader at mechanicsville?

Major General George B. McClellan and Brigadier General Fitz John Porter.


Was McClellan a confederate of a union leader?

McClellan was a leader of the Union Army.


Which leader of the army of the potomac had a bodyguard?

No Union military leader actually had a bodyguard. However, President Abraham Lincoln used the term McClellan's bodyguard to describe the idle army which was being incompetently led by Major General George McClellan.


Why was Union General George G Meade loyal to his former commander General George B McClellan?

General Meade remained loyal to his former commander, George B. McClellan, even after Meade was appointed the leader of the Army of the Potomac. He, like McClellan outwardly criticized the political interference the military had to deal with concerning military issues.


Union leader at mechanicsville?

The Union Commander of the Army of the Potomac at the Battle of Fredericksburg was Ambrose Burnsides


Abraham Lincoln's response to General McClellan's Command?

Lincoln's response to General McClellan's command was that Lincoln relieved McClellan of Command.


Which of these men was an excellent trainer of the army of the potomac but an ineffective battlefieeld commander?

Sounds like McClellan


Who was the confederate leader at Antietam?

George McClellan


What was George McClellan best at?

He was very successfully at raising and training the army. He was ineffective as a tactical commander in the field.