What challenges did Union General George B McClellan face just prior to the Battle of Antietam?

Answer 1

When US President Abraham Lincoln reassigned General George B. McClellan, it could not have been at the worst time in the war, in that the Armies of the Union had just been defeated again, at the second Battle of Bull Run. Lincoln, against the advice of his cabinet believed that the time was right to once again have McClellan take charge of the army he basically created a year earlier.With that said, McClellan had to reorganize the armies of the Potomac and Virginia into one fighting force. Here began in this fashion:

1. He kept generals Porter, Sumner Franklin and Heintzelman in command of the armies they had in the Peninsula campaign. He trusted them and had remained loyal to him after his demise after Bull Run;

2. General John Pope's commanders, McDowell, Siegel and Banks were relieved;

3. Banks, however, had strong political support and he had to have him "hang around". With that said, he placed Banks in charge of the garrison defending Washington DC;

4. McClellan promoted Major General Joseph Hooker to command McDowell's Corps;

5. He kept the troops of the Army of the Potomac XL and XII under the aforementioned Siegel and Banks; and

6. He was loyal to Ambrose Burnside who retained command of the IX Corps, and he was given two fresh divisions.

McClellan also did not forget the cavalry and unified them into a division under General Alfred Pleasonton.

Answer 2

As the crucial battle between generals McClellan and Lee approached at Sharpsburg in mid-September, 1862 McClellan had a tactical opportunity he failed to take advantage of. He surmised that the best way to defeat the Army of Northern Virginia was to use a turning movement. McClellan believed a frontal assault would be a disaster, therefore his best option was to attack Lee's northern flank. His concern was that in doing so, he would not have enough troops to block a counterattack on his own front lines should Lee take that approach.