When Union Major General George B. McClellan finally decided to cross the Potomac River, his plans were to take over railways and cut off General Lee's lines of communications from Richmond.In anticipation of this plan, Lee divided his forces. He moved General Longstreet's forces to Culpeper, Virginia and Stonewall Jackson's forces were left in the Shenandoah Valley. There Jackson could keep McClellan in check or even threaten McClellan's own lines of communications.
General George B. McClellan was opposed to President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. He had friends at the Democratic newspaper in New York City and wrote a letter to one of the New York Herald reporters, who then addressed the publisher of the newspaper, James Gordon Bennett. McClellan's position was that President Lincoln's actions were almost treason. He charged Lincoln of inaugurating a servile war, emancipating slaves, and with one stroke of the pen changing the US's free institutions into a despotism. And for suspending Habeas Corpus.In McClellan's view, Lincoln wanted to overthrow constitutional government and establish a despotism.
President Lincoln's preliminary Emancipation Proclamation in 1862 was a shock to General McClellan. He also was shocked when Lincoln soon after suspended habeas corpus. He was opposed to both of these actions by President Lincoln.
As the Union's Peninsula campaign was in its early stages, General McClellan was certain that President Lincoln was hampering McClellan's war operations. Lincoln had stepped in and retained the corps under General McDowell to defend Washington DC. Lincoln believed this was a necessity.
George B. McClellan. McClellan also ran for president against Lincoln in 1864 (but lost). McClellan's son was also governor of New Jersey.
When Union Major General George B. McClellan finally decided to cross the Potomac River, his plans were to take over railways and cut off General Lee's lines of communications from Richmond.In anticipation of this plan, Lee divided his forces. He moved General Longstreet's forces to Culpeper, Virginia and Stonewall Jackson's forces were left in the Shenandoah Valley. There Jackson could keep McClellan in check or even threaten McClellan's own lines of communications.
There was a communications "gaff" between Lincoln and the press. McClellan learned he was no longer general in chief by reading it in the newspaper. What ashame.
President Lincoln would have several things to say about his dismissal of General George B. McClellan in 1862. Lincoln informed John Hay that McClellan's refusal to obey the order to advance on October 6, 1862 convinced him that McClellan was not to be trusted to defeat the Rebels in the manner Lincoln had wanted. Lincoln also said that he would have been willing to leave McClellan in command if he would advance before the onset of Winter. This would cut Lee's communications with Richmond. It clearly appears that the former reason is why Lincoln dismissed McClellan.
When General George B. McClellan returned to Washington DC on March 11, 1862, he became aware that President Lincoln removed his title of general in chief.
General George McClellan, although he was lukewarm about the Democratic Party platform in that election.
General George B. McClellan was opposed to President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. He had friends at the Democratic newspaper in New York City and wrote a letter to one of the New York Herald reporters, who then addressed the publisher of the newspaper, James Gordon Bennett. McClellan's position was that President Lincoln's actions were almost treason. He charged Lincoln of inaugurating a servile war, emancipating slaves, and with one stroke of the pen changing the US's free institutions into a despotism. And for suspending Habeas Corpus.In McClellan's view, Lincoln wanted to overthrow constitutional government and establish a despotism.
The Democratic candidate was General George McClellan.
President Lincoln's preliminary Emancipation Proclamation in 1862 was a shock to General McClellan. He also was shocked when Lincoln soon after suspended habeas corpus. He was opposed to both of these actions by President Lincoln.
On April 20, 1862, General George B. McClellan informed President Lincoln that Robert E. Lee was replacing the wounded General Johnston. McClellan also mentioned that this change was good for the Union as Lee was known to be weak and timid.
As the Union's Peninsula campaign was in its early stages, General McClellan was certain that President Lincoln was hampering McClellan's war operations. Lincoln had stepped in and retained the corps under General McDowell to defend Washington DC. Lincoln believed this was a necessity.
That he failed to pursue Lee after Antietam.
he had refused to lee's retreating army into Virginia