In late 1861, General in Chief George B. McClellan displayed what the US Civil War called for based on the circumstances that were at hand. The complexity of the Union's war efforts were best handled by a general in chief that did not command an army of his own, but rather created military strategies to be carried out by his subordinates. For example, McClellan assigned General Henry W. Halleck to head the Department of Missouri and General Don Carlos Buell to the department of the Ohio.As the war moved along, it became clear that McClellan was an expert organizer and a creative strategic thinker. McClellan's strength was in those two important areas. He was not a great field general. Having said that, he was not alone in that category. For the most part, many Union generals were average at best.
General Meade remained loyal to his former commander, George B. McClellan, even after Meade was appointed the leader of the Army of the Potomac. He, like McClellan outwardly criticized the political interference the military had to deal with concerning military issues.
Union General George B. McClellan had a broad range of responsibilities during the eighteen months he served during the US Civil War. Only Union generals US Grant and Henry W. Halleck matched McClellan's range of military positions. On an overall basis, McClellan's combination of roles made him unique in the fours years of the US Civil War.
After the battle of Antietam, Lincoln decided to replace General McClellan as the top military commander with general Ambrose E. Burnside. On November 3rd of 1862, Lincoln made this important change in the Union's military forces.
In "Across Five Aprils" by Irene Hunt, Shad believes General McClellan is overly cautious and hesitant, which hampers the Union's military effectiveness. While he respects McClellan's leadership qualities and acknowledges his intelligence, Shad feels that the general's reluctance to engage aggressively in battle ultimately leads to missed opportunities for the Union army. This ambivalence reflects the frustrations felt by many during the Civil War regarding military leadership and strategy.
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.
The private organization that Union General George McClellan hired to help gather military intelligence was the Union Espionage Organization.
General Meade remained loyal to his former commander, George B. McClellan, even after Meade was appointed the leader of the Army of the Potomac. He, like McClellan outwardly criticized the political interference the military had to deal with concerning military issues.
General McClellan was important to the Civil War because he organized, equipped and drilled the disorganized mass of volunteers making of them a homogeneous, solid and efficient team of military units, the Army of the Potomac.
Clearly the so-called Maryland campaign was the climax of Major General George B. McClellan's military career and the Battle of Antietam his greatest and most important battle. The Battle of Antietam is legendary as the bloodiest day in US military history with over 25,000 casualties in one day which includes both sides of the battle.
McClellan was a Union commander and he repelled general Lee's first Northern invasion.
George B. McClellan was a general who fought in the Civil War. He fought on the side of the Union Army, but is generally regarded as a somewhat ineffective military leader.
Based on the problems created by Union General George B. McClellan, Halleck was sent to McClellan's headquarters in Eastern Virginia. At his place of retreat, Halleck and Quartermaster General Meigs needed to determine whether the Army of the Potomac needed the 20,000 extra troops McClellan claimed were required to save the Peninsula Campaign. If not, or due some other problem, McClellan would be ordered to return to Northern Virginia.
As the Battle of Antietam approached General George B. McClellan received military intelligence on the Army of Northern Virginia from three sources. One was his cavalry general Alfred Pleasonton, also from Allan Pinkerton and Maryland civilians loyal to the Union.
US President Abraham Lincoln summoned General George McClellan to the capital. McClellan took charge of Federal troops in Washington DC on July 26, 1861. At that time he became Lincoln's most influential military adviser. In consultation with Lincoln and General Scott, McClellan developed a general plan of operations that he envisioned to be the actions of of the Union's strategic course of action. As with any military plans, the movements of Southern forces, would alter the Union's general plans. With that said, McClellan's overall initial strategies would become the basis of Federal operations against the Confederacy.
Union General George B. McClellan had a broad range of responsibilities during the eighteen months he served during the US Civil War. Only Union generals US Grant and Henry W. Halleck matched McClellan's range of military positions. On an overall basis, McClellan's combination of roles made him unique in the fours years of the US Civil War.
Lincoln's response to General McClellan's command was that Lincoln relieved McClellan of Command.
After the battle of Antietam, Lincoln decided to replace General McClellan as the top military commander with general Ambrose E. Burnside. On November 3rd of 1862, Lincoln made this important change in the Union's military forces.