General McClellan was an excellent military strategist, but not a very aggressive commander of troops in the field(in battle). Early in the war, after McClellan had been endlessly drilling the Army but not deploying it for battle, Lincoln sarcastically commented "If General McClellan is not going to use the Army, I'd like to borrow it for a while." McClellan was too much of the siege mentality. During the 1862 Peninsular Campaign parts of the Union Army got within about 7 miles of Richmond(their objective)and basically stopped their advance. Lincoln needed a General who was aggressive in battle and that is why he respected Gen. Grant.
NO, Lincoln's problem with McClellan was not military but political. Like most people, McClellan objected to the Radical Republicans' use of the war to push their political agenda and to rape the South. The Radical Republicans in Congress, few of whom had ever done military service, were suspicious of professional military men, particularly those of the upper classes such as McClellan and Fitzhugh Porter. They held hearings on the conduct of the war, and sought to harass and imprison any officer they suspected of "disloyalty" (i.e., not following the radical Abolitionist party line).
The radicals in Congress wanted to fire McClellan long before Lincoln actually did. And Lincoln did not replace McClellan with Grant. He replaced McClellan with Pope and Burnside, who were disasters (but "politically correct"), then Hooker (ditto), and finally Meade, who was a conservative Democrat...but by now Lincoln was running out of Generals. Then Grant came in as Meade's boss. Grant was safe politically because his friend and sponsor was the powerful Illinois Congressman Elihu Washburne, whom Lincoln listened to and obeyed.
Lincoln fired several generals. He fired McClellan twice.
Lincoln's Democratic opponent in the election of 1864 was General George McClellan.
On July 7,1862, Lincoln went to Harrison's Landing to personally know what McClellan's operational plans were. The only thing he got was a letter in which the general, instead of expressing his intention regarding what kind of action he was going to develop on his front, gave a paternalistic suggestions and advice about governmental policy; (source: "Own Story" by George Brinton McClellan, page 487 and following.). It was the second time the general addressed to Lincoln such a kind of message, what would have been enough to sent him before a court martial, but Lincoln didn't react.
Douglas 1860, McCelland 1864
George McClellan ran against Lincoln on a peace platform for the Democrats. He was beaten by Lincoln.
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.
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.
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.
Lincoln's response to General McClellan's command was that Lincoln relieved McClellan of Command.
General George B. McClellan's departure for his Peninsula campaign gave President Lincoln an opportunity to reorganize the Union's armies. With these plans, Lincoln also made certain changes:* He relieved McClellan as general in chief;* This left McClellan only in charge of the Army of the Potomac;* Under Henry Halleck, Lincoln created the Department of the Mississippi; and* Also, the Mountain Department was created under the command of John Fremont.Lincoln believed he was doing McClellan a favor by allowing him to focus on the major operation at hand, and one that might end the war, namely the capture of Richmond. As general in chief, McClellan would have never approved of the abolitionist General Fremont. Needless to say, McClellan was hugely disappointed with the loss of his most sought after position as general in chief.
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.
General George Mcclellan was, by all accounts, an egomaniac. He was bitter over his removal from command by Lincoln. In running for President in 1864 against Lincoln, he sought to "get even" and embarrass Lincoln.
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.
President Lincoln did second guess himself for a while. This is because General McClellan had years of extensive industry and military experience. Lincoln, however, would soon find a replacement for the ousted General.
That he failed to pursue Lee after Antietam.
he had refused to lee's retreating army into Virginia
On April 3, 1862, US President Lincoln is upset that General George B. McClellan has left less than 20,000 troops to guard Washington DC. McClellan was concerned about his Peninsula Campaign. Lincoln refuses to allow any of General McDowell's forces to join McClellan. This causes a rift between Lincoln and McClellan.