The reasons behind Lincoln's dismissal of McClellan were complex. With that said, President Lincoln had few choices. Ambrose Burnside replaced General George B. McClellan after the Battle of Antietam. Prior to his final dismissal in November of 1862, McClellan was stripped of his army in favor of the new army under General John Pope. Most people believed that McClellan's career was over. However, Pope's defeat at the second Battle of Bull Run saw Lincoln restore McClellan as the leader of the Army of the Potomac. Lincoln's cabinet objected to give McClellan command of the Army of the Potomac, but Lincoln correctly reasoned that this army loved McClellan and would fight their best under his command.
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.
Lincoln was disappointed that General George B. McClellan had allowed Confederate general Lee to escape after the Battle of Antietam. The result of Lincoln's disappointment was the replacement of McClellan by General Burnside.
After Antietam (Sept 17, 1862) when McClellan once again believed he needed time for his troops to rest. President Lincoln replaced him (on Nov 7) with General Ambrose Burnside. That was the end of McClellan's service as a Union military leader. As an aside, General Burnside felt uncomfortable replacing George B. McClellan. He had been loyal to him, also, he was not sure the command of the Army of the Potomac would be a fit for his abilities.
Major General George Brinton McClellan.
The Union Army of the Potomac commanded by Major General George B. McClellan won the battle along Antietam Creek.
That he failed to pursue Lee after Antietam.
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.
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.
George B. McClellan
George Brinton McClellan.
Major General George B. McClellan.
George McClellan (Union)
Lincoln was disappointed that General George B. McClellan had allowed Confederate general Lee to escape after the Battle of Antietam. The result of Lincoln's disappointment was the replacement of McClellan by General Burnside.
Major General George B. McClellan was commanding the Federal Army of the Potomac at the Battle of Antietam.
Operation Golgotha Inebreate
After Antietam (Sept 17, 1862) when McClellan once again believed he needed time for his troops to rest. President Lincoln replaced him (on Nov 7) with General Ambrose Burnside. That was the end of McClellan's service as a Union military leader. As an aside, General Burnside felt uncomfortable replacing George B. McClellan. He had been loyal to him, also, he was not sure the command of the Army of the Potomac would be a fit for his abilities.