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On September 15, 1862, Major General George B. McClellan made a miscalculation that would have made a significant impact on the Battle of Antietam. In fact, that battle would have taken place on that date instead of September 17, 1862. On the 15th McClellan could have attacked General Lee's forces at Sharpsburg but he hesitated. He believed he did not have enough troops, when in fact he had 40,000 troops as compared to Lee's 18,000 troops. Clearly, this would have changed the history of the US Civil War, and may have ended that war in a very short time, as Lee's army would have been devastated.

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Q: What was the costly error that General McClellan made on September 15 1862?
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What error did President Lincoln make after he took away General McClellan's title of general in chief?

President Lincoln can certainly be called prudent when he believed that General McClellan was unable to handle the Peninsula campaign and also remain as general in chief. The glaring error was that he had no replacement. Lincoln and Secretary of War Stanton ran the Union's complicated war efforts from March 1862 to July 1862. It was in July that Lincoln brought to Washington DC, General Halleck to be the new general in chief. Ironically, he would be replaced by a general he once wanted to dismiss, General US Grant.


Why did General US Grant's attempt to capture Richmond have a better chance of success than that of General McClellan?

In 1864, General in Chief US Grant's plans for the capture of Richmond had the advantage of an exterior line assault, which normally was a disadvantage. With that said, exterior line weaknesses were potentially overcome by the 30,000 troops that were under the command of Union General Butler. Butler was defeated by General Beauregard with fewer troops. Butler was never a good general and Grant made an error by entrusting him with a crucial part of his plan.


Why did General Robert E. Lee retreat after the US Civil War Battle of Antietam?

General Robert E. Lee lost one-third of his fighting force. He made the decision that his best option was to withdraw to Virginia. McClellan's failure to promptly pursue the retreating Rebel army was an error.


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