When the Battle of Antietam caused the Army of Northern Virginia to retreat back to Virginia, Major General George B. McClellan believed he had saved the North from a catastrophe. Certainly no one could dispute that. Based on that fact, McClellan believed that he deserved to be reappointed as general in chief and his perceived enemy, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton should be replaced.
George B. McClellan
George McClellan (Union)
Major General George B. McClellan.
Major General George B. McClellan was commanding the Federal Army of the Potomac at the Battle of Antietam.
Lincoln was disappointed that General George B. McClellan had allowed Confederate general Lee to escape after the Battle of Antietam. The result of Lincoln's disappointment was the replacement of McClellan by General Burnside.
The commander of the Unions Army of the Potomac at Antietam was Major General George B. McClellan.
Major General George B. McClellan was unaware that President Lincoln wanted to replace him. McClellan and his War Democrat supporters considered McClellan the hero of Antietam. By the end of October 1862, McClellan had rebuilt his Army of the Potomac to 120,000 troops. He had only 70,000 troops at the battle of Antietam.
Via telegrams and letters, General George B. McClellan recognized that the carnage on September 17, 1862 was the most horrible battle he had ever witnessed or read about. He said Antietam was the horrible "battle of the age".
General McClellan found General Lee's battle plan.
George McClellan
George McClellan
The Union Army of the Potomac commanded by Major General George B. McClellan won the battle along Antietam Creek.