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.
Based on his previous actions, and not just those at Antietam, Lincoln fired Major General George McClellan as general-in-chief of the Union armies and replaced him as commander of the Army of the Potomac with Ambrose Burnside.Lincoln was likely prompted by what he saw as the indecisive, overcautious nature of McClellan, who at Antietam thought that he was outnumbered when it was very much the reverse.
During the Peninsula campaign, Union General George B. McClellan learned that Robert E. Lee had replaced the wounded Confederate General Joseph Johnston. In his memoirs, McClellan wrote that he was glad at the prospect of engaging Lee. McClellan wrote that Lee was too cautious and weak. And, that Lee lacked the moral fiber to use firmness in battlefield actions.
President Lincoln's preliminary Emancipation Proclamation in 1862 was a shock to General McClellan. He also was shocked when Lincoln soon after suspended habeas corpus. He was opposed to both of these actions by President Lincoln.
he did not give mcclellan enough troops
General George B. McClellan's departure for his Peninsula campaign gave President Lincoln an opportunity to reorganize the Union's armies. With these plans, Lincoln also made certain changes:* He relieved McClellan as general in chief;* This left McClellan only in charge of the Army of the Potomac;* Under Henry Halleck, Lincoln created the Department of the Mississippi; and* Also, the Mountain Department was created under the command of John Fremont.Lincoln believed he was doing McClellan a favor by allowing him to focus on the major operation at hand, and one that might end the war, namely the capture of Richmond. As general in chief, McClellan would have never approved of the abolitionist General Fremont. Needless to say, McClellan was hugely disappointed with the loss of his most sought after position as general in chief.
Jackson led a determined stand against the Union Army
Jackson led a determined stand against the Union Army
US President Abraham Lincoln summoned General George McClellan to the capital. McClellan took charge of Federal troops in Washington DC on July 26, 1861. At that time he became Lincoln's most influential military adviser. In consultation with Lincoln and General Scott, McClellan developed a general plan of operations that he envisioned to be the actions of of the Union's strategic course of action. As with any military plans, the movements of Southern forces, would alter the Union's general plans. With that said, McClellan's overall initial strategies would become the basis of Federal operations against the Confederacy.
Jackson led a determined stand against the Union Army
Jackson led a determined stand against the Union Army
Jackson led a determined stand against the Union Army
Jackson led a determined stand against the Union Army