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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In his initial plan to end the Southern rebellion, General McClellan outlined a multipronged offensive. The key area of operations would be in Virginia.
General George B. McClellan was a prominent leader in the Union Army during the American Civil War, representing the North. He served as the commander of the Army of the Potomac and later became the general-in-chief of the Union Army. McClellan is best known for his cautious strategies and for leading the Union forces during the early years of the 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.