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One overlooked strength of Union General George B. McClellan that may have helped the South was his determination to wait far too long to organize the Union's Army of the Potomac. The long time this took, the more time it gave the South to add to its armies and prepare for battles with the Union forces. His over cautious tendencies were also a problem. In addition, McClellan believed that the Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton was not qualified to be his direct superior.Whatever his failings, McClellan was not afraid to fight, he was overly cautious and used unreliable sources for gathering military intelligence.

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He was cautious and slow to attack Richmond, the Confederate capitol.

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Q: What quality of General Mcclellan may have hurt the union and helped the south?
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What was one result of the retreat of Union General George B McClellan to the James River in 1862?

Based on his precarious position it was a wise move by General McClellan to retreat south to the James River. The South benefited by this in that McClellan had to leave behind major supplies of foodstuffs.


What did General George B McClellan believe was the key area in the South that required immediate attention in 1861?

In his initial plan to end the Southern rebellion, General McClellan outlined a multipronged offensive. The key area of operations would be in Virginia.


Which side did George B McClellan fight against in the US Civil War?

McClellan was a Union general (the North) and thus fought against the Confederacy (the South). He also ran against Lincoln in 1865, but lost in a severe landslide.


In the Battle of Antietam who were the military leaders?

For the Union Major General George B. McClellan, for the Confederacy General Robert E. Lee. The fighting lasted one day, and tactically it was a draw. The next day Lee remained on the battlefield, daring McClellan to renew the battle, which McClellan did not do, despite having at least a two to one edge in manpower over the Rebels. Then Lee withdrew, south over the Potomac River, which was enough to allow northerners to consider the battle a northern victory, since when all was said and done the Union Army remained in possession of the field. McClellan did not try to stop Lee from leaving. A more capable or aggressive commander could probably have destroyed Lee's Army and ended the war on the day of the battle. Lincoln understood this and was immensely frustrated with McClellan, who did not stir from the battlefield for more than six weeks after the battle, even after Lincoln visited him on the battlefield and attempted to goad him into going after the Rebel Army. McClellan still did not move, and after another week, with the midterm elections safely past (McClellan was an important Democrat and Lincoln could not afford to offend northern Democrats) Lincoln fired McClellan. General McClellan never held another command during the war, but did run against Lincoln in the 1864 election as the Democratic candidate.


Why did General Lee expect to see the Union's plans set by General McClellan change under General Burnside?

Once General George B. McClellan was replaced by General Ambrose Burnside, it was clear to General Lee that McClellan's plans for cutting off Lee from Richmond would be altered.President Lincoln had hand picked Ambrose Burnside to replace McClellan as the commander of the Army of the Potomac. Since Lincoln was focused on the capture of Richmond, more than anything else, Burnside would follow Lincoln's preference to attack the Rebel cap[ital of Richmond. Burnside as Lee predicted shifted the Army of the Potomac to the favorite overland route to Richmond, with Fredericksburg as his first objective. Burnside planned to prevent Lee from moving south to protect Richmond.

Related questions

What quality of general McClellan may have hurt the union and helped the south.?

One overlooked strength of Union General George B. McClellan that may have helped the South was his determination to wait far too long to organize the Union's Army of the Potomac. The long time this took, the more time it gave the South to add to its armies and prepare for battles with the Union forces. His over cautious tendencies were also a problem. In addition, McClellan believed that the Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton was not qualified to be his direct superior.Whatever his failings, McClellan was not afraid to fight, he was overly cautious and used unreliable sources for gathering military intelligence.


What what quality of General McClellan may have hurt the union and helped the south?

One overlooked strength of Union General George B. McClellan that may have helped the South was his determination to wait far too long to organize the Union's Army of the Potomac. The long time this took, the more time it gave the South to add to its armies and prepare for battles with the Union forces. His over cautious tendencies were also a problem. In addition, McClellan believed that the Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton was not qualified to be his direct superior.Whatever his failings, McClellan was not afraid to fight, he was overly cautious and used unreliable sources for gathering military intelligence.


What was one result of the retreat of Union General George B McClellan to the James River in 1862?

Based on his precarious position it was a wise move by General McClellan to retreat south to the James River. The South benefited by this in that McClellan had to leave behind major supplies of foodstuffs.


What quality did general mcclellan may have hurt the union and helped the south?

General George B. McClellan was best known for his thorough planning and attention to the details of his army, but this quality also served as a double-edged sword in that he would often overestimate the strength of his enemy. This proved costly in battles such as Antietam, in which while technically winning due to Robert E. Lee's retreat, his hesitation in deploying his reserves to capitalize on the local successes throughout the battle would ultimately allow General Lee to escape with a large portion of his force intact. McClellan's giving in to caution and refusing to pursue Lee following the battle ultimately led to his removal by President Lincoln, and his replacement by General Ambrose Burnside.


What did Union general in chief Henry Halleck believe about the Union victory at South Mountain in 1862?

On September 30, 1862, General in Chief telegraphed General McClellan that he was very pleased about the battle reports furnished by McClellan on the victory at South Mountain and Antietam. His congratulations were overwhelming and he promised to convey all of this to President Lincoln.


What did General George B McClellan believe was the key area in the South that required immediate attention in 1861?

In his initial plan to end the Southern rebellion, General McClellan outlined a multipronged offensive. The key area of operations would be in Virginia.


Which side did George B McClellan fight against in the US Civil War?

McClellan was a Union general (the North) and thus fought against the Confederacy (the South). He also ran against Lincoln in 1865, but lost in a severe landslide.


How many troops did General George B. McClellan want to have for the Army of the Potomac in the Fall of 1861?

General George B. McClellan was constantly fearful of what he believed was the troop strength of the Confederate armies he would face. With that in mind, McClellan believed that the Army of the Potomac would have to have at least 150,000 troops before he would order any offensives against the South.


How did the Emancipation Proclamation substantiate the views of General George McClellan?

As General George B. McClellan and other conservatives predicted, the Emancipation Proclamation intensified the South's commitment to their cause for independence, because it threatened both the property interest in slaves and the social goal of preserving White supremacy.


How long did General George B McClellan serve as the Union's general in chief?

In general terms, General George B. McClellan served only four months as general in chief. During his tenure there were several major developments. The Peninsula campaign was tried and failed, which led to the Second Battle of Bull Run. This in turn was followed by the South's march into Maryland and into the Battle of Antietam. This was yet another significant military operation. McClellan was relieved of duty some seven weeks after that horrific battle.


What was the letter President Lincoln sent to General George B McClellan in October of 1862?

On October 13, 1862, President Lincoln sent General McClellan a long letter explaining the plans Lincoln believed were needed to defeat the South. Lincoln was almost sure that an aggressive Union response from McClellan's army would not be forthcoming. With that said, McClellan had every chance to keep his position if he even tried to execute the plans Lincoln sent to him.


How did General George B McClellan approach the problem of General Lee's raid into Maryland in 1862?

Upon learning of the raid into Maryland by General Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia, Major General George B. McClellan knew he was facing a challenge from the South's best general and its best army. With that in mind, McClellan began to follow the Confederates slowly, making sure that Washington DC and Baltimore, Maryland were secure. He also needed time to reorganize his Army of the Potomac in order to meet Lee's challenge.