The gunboat candidate at the battle of malvern hill. Mcclellan, officer of the federal army, and his wife, ellen mary marcy digital file from intermediary roll copy film. And the following day the union forces succeed in pushing back the confederates. We acquired this leaf for the purpose of digitally preserving it for your research and enjoyment. Even the famous confederate general and former ally, robert e. The first half of the book discusses the common criticisms of mcclellan.
He forged the army of the potomac into a formidable battlefield foe, and fought the longest and largest campaign of the time as well as the single bloodiest battle in the nations history. William styple talked about general george mcclellans working relationship with staff officer, colonel thomas key. Mcclellans volunteer troops succeeded and gained control of western virginia. General mcclellans virginia campaign had slowed down to a crawl, and general grants defense of eastern kentucky saw some major defeats before turning around in early 1863. Then the union forces had to abandon the peninsula campaign and lincoln temporarily abandoned mcclellan as a commander of the army of the potomac. Mcclellan, one of the generals who took part in the second peril against america. The only front that saw rapid movement was general shermans capture of east tennessee. The battle of south mountain american battlefield trust. Mcclellan 18261885, designated the young napoleon, was the commander of all the northern armies. He was psychologically deterred from pushing action to the point of result. If general mcclellan does something or doesnt do any thing, there are papers which will express a sneer.
General charles krulak coined the term strategic corporal a junior member trained to make timecritical decisions in response to the dynamic ground fight. Mcclellans book, like grants, was a posthumous publication. The irony is that mcclellans weakness was grounded in his successes and the failures of other men. Majorgeneral mcclellans report to the adjutantgeneral of april l, after giving the several positions of the troops proposed to be left for the defense of washington, gives a representation as follows. Put in that position, he proved the weakness of west point in its early years. He attended private schools and a prep school before entering the. In chapter 19 of his book, the secret destiny of america, one of the foremost authorities on freemasonry, manly p hall, gave an account of a prophetic dream that general george mcclellan reported at a critical point in the american civil war. No study of this important figure is complete without this volume.
Inside the bush white house and washingtons culture of deception is an autobiographical bestseller by scott mcclellan, who served as white house press secretary from 2003 until 2006 under president george w. Mcclellans photos are also exceptional and will serve as a handy guide for any rail buff or historian. George mcclellans union forces narrowly won the battle of antietam, but he has long been blamed by historians and politicians for botching an. Mcclellan was well liked by his men, but his reticence to attack.
Mcclellan used this work as a platform to defend his conduct, actions, and decisions during the mexicanamerican war and civil war. Mcclellan definition, union general in the american civil war. But at the battle of williamsburg with general mcclellan believing his army. The author is obviously a scholar of the civil war as the research for this book demonstrates. Ken burns made so much of mcclellan because mcclellans letters to his wife reveal so much of the petulant child that he was, it makes for a good dramatic documentary. Was george b mcclellan the most underrated general of the. It was a good plan despite lincolns fears for washington. Burnside in 1863, a post he lost just six months later after he led a failed attack on lees forces at chancellorsville. Union army general, known as his nickname for his bold attacks on confederate lines during mcclellan s peninsular campaign. Among those present was general mcclellan, whom i then saw for the first time. Mcclellan s death on october 29, 1885, hardly three months later, was sudden and unexpected, and at first it was thought he had left no written record. Aug 21, 2018 the peninsula or peninsular campaign was a major union offensive against the confederate capital of richmond led by major general george b. He calls to the troops, fight on my brave soldiers and push the enemy to the wall, from this spanker boom your beloved general looks down upon you. Here, finally, was a young man who seemed to understand the necessities of modern warfare, or at least spoke like he did.
From there the army of the potomac would march overland toward richmond. General mcclellan directs me to enclose the accompanying dispatch from signal officer, and to say that if there is any truth in it, he desires you to push the enemy vigorously. The national park service is modifying its operations on a parkbypark basis in accordance. Soon after, mcclellan sent troops to stop confederate forces that were sent to suppress the idea of a union revolution in richmond, virginia. Hoping to bestir his inert commander, in early october lincoln visited antietam and the army he sarcastically referred to as general mcclellans bodyguard. The value of this book is its view into the mind of george mcclellan during the bitter early days of the civil war.
And general mcclellan is one of the most interesting i know the outlines of general mcclellans lack of success during the civil war, but this biography put meat on the bones. The idea for such a division was from general ambrose. In the shadow of grant and sherman rowland, thomas j. Nov 05, 2012 mcclellan had yet to do anything to dispel lincolns sense that he was unwilling to take the fight to the enemy. The new union general in chief, henry halleck, had given mcclellan a choice. The artist shows mcclellan viewing the battle through a telescope from his safe perch. Mcclellan received orders to begin withdrawing the army of the potomac from its position in front of richmond, va. The urbanna plan was quickly discarded, however, when general joseph johnston abandoned his position near manassas junction and ordered the confederate army closer to richmond. And general mcclellan is one of the most interesting i know the outlines of general mcclellan s lack of success during the civil war, but this biography put meat on the bones.
This work goes over mcclellans main objectives and the outcome of his strategies, which were largely unsuccessful against troops commanded by jackson and lee. Lee, could do nothing to push back mcclellans troops. Details of the dream were published shortly thereafter in the portland maine evening courier on march 8. Mcclellan, in full george brinton mcclellan, born december 3, 1826, philadelphia, pennsylvania, u. George brinton mcclellan december 3, 1826 october 29, 1885 was an american soldier, civil engineer, railroad executive, and politician. If general fremont does or doesnt, others will do the same. Closely related to george washingtons vision, but not as well known is a vision given to general george b. He took command of all the troops in the department. We are all as desperate military, as we have been political, partisans. Already the most controversial general of the civil war, mcclellan becomes even more of a questionmark with the discovery that he had a dominant hand in an estimating process of questionable probity.
Cable television has returned to 247 coverage of whether president bush. He promptly set about training this army outside washington, d. He was horrible not because he didnt drill his soldiers, he drilled them very well. Let the general know if the enemy is retreating, and he will push forward with the center. George mcclellan was a union general in the american civil war. An amazing civil war newspaper featuring a general george mcclellan biography. Scott mcclellan, the former white house press secretary who spent an enormous amount of time at the podium defending bush and the war in iraq, says it was sold to americans with a sophisticated political propaganda campaign led by the. Mcclellan is an equestrian statue in washington, d. Mcclellan, the young napoleon, as the newspapers called him, was already the idol of his army and had many admirers among the people of the north and the powerful of washington.
He says the white house press corps was too easy on the administration during the runup to the war. That title would go to patterson, mcdowell, price, butler, or burnside. In midoctober, lincoln wrote to mcclellan, in one of the longest communications he ever sent to his general, setting out the situation as he saw it. What mcclellan left behind american civil war forums. Lee slowly drove mcclellan and his union army back into the sea. However, the arrival of stonewall jacksons troops meant that the union position was pushed back. Earlier in the book, writing about the aftermath of the battle of gaines mill, sears tells us of lee, it did not occur to him lee that general mcclellan would give up easily. Job done, mcclellan leaves for hq to order the assaulting divisions to occupy the position behind the garrow berm at night for a general assault. Author stephen sears describes and analyzes the actions of general george mcclellan at the battle of antietam in september 1862. Mcclellan s own story which wasn t published until 1887, after his death.
George mcclellan was not the miserable failure history has made him out to be, and that the mistakes that were made in the spring and summer of 1862 were mostly not his fault. Army engineer, railroad president and politician who served as a major general during the civil war. Mcclellan was made general in chief, he asked secretary of war, cameron for permission to create a coastal division. Mcclellan, general who skillfully reorganized union forces in the first year of the american civil war 186165 but drew wide criticism for repeatedly failing to press his advantage over confederate troops. John, your new book, the battle of south mountain, is a welcome addition for those who want to learn. Mcclellans first campaign, the 3rd volume of russel beaties masterful series, covers the pivotal early months of general george mcclellans peninsula campaign through the siege of yorktown, the pursuit toward richmond, and the fighting at williamsburg. The book s real beauty is the air of innocence and charm that is created by mcclellans unvarnished view of events and the world in general. May 28, 2008 the bush administration still has about eight months to go, but the first big former insidertellall book is out and our readers who comment are all over it. Mcclellan s book, like grants, was a posthumous publication.
Mcclellan then planned an advance on richmond by way of the peninsula between the james and york rivers. This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the what happened mcclellan book article. An efficient drillmaster and administrator he had achieved successes in the wars first months. And so, after reading both shelby footes narrative of the civil war and stephen sears the author of this book books on antietam, the peninsular campaign. Mcclellan, and report on the organization and campaigns of the army of the potomac, to which is added an account of the campaign in western virginia, with plans of b. The only source i know concerning this vision is the evening courier of portland, maine. Robert edward lee january 19, 1807 october 12, 1870 was an american and confederate soldier, best known as a commander of the confederate states army. You are sure never to know quite the truth about one general in one paper, or about another general in another.
Project muse the curious case of general mcclellans memoirs. But mcclellan did not have the ability to direct it. Mcclellans troops retreated to the protection of naval guns, effectively ending the union threat to richmond. Was george mcclellan the worst general of the civil war. After graduating 1846 from west point, he served with distinction in the mexican war and later worked on various engineering projects, notably on the survey 185354 for a northern pacific rr route across the cascade range. Mcclellan charges that bush relied on propaganda to sell the war.
General mcclellan s original plan called for a landing at urbanna on the rappahannock river. The union army was able to hold back the attackers with heavy casualties. Mcclellan, officer of the federal army, and his wife, ellen mary marcy. The editor of this work, william cowper prime, was an american journalist, art historian, numismatist, and travel writer, and close friend of mcclellans. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. Nicknamed young napoleon and little mac, he twice was commander of army of the potomac, the unions largest army, and fought as generalinchief of the union army until being removed by abraham lincoln in 1862. The story of general grants last battle, against the cancer thatkilled him just days after he completed his manuscript, was well known. A graduate of west point, mcclella n served with distinction during th e mexicanamerican w ar 18461848, and later left the army to work on railroads until the outbreak of the american civil war 18611865. Mcclellan in the spring and summer of 1862, during the. General george mcclellan biography american civil war. George brinton mcclellan, 182685, union general in the american civil war, b. Oration delivered by general mcclellan at west point, june 15, 1864. He said colonel key exercised unique influence over mcclellan, often to a.
Lincoln wanted mcclellan to get back across the potomac and engage with lee, but, as a delay followed delay, the frustration of both the president and the senior command reached breaking point. How success and the failures of others ruined general. No, mcclellan was not the worst general in the war. In the civil war, general mcclellan was a horrible northern general. This is not a forum for general discussion of the articles subject put new text under old text. He turned the army of the potomac into a welloiled fighting machine. Mcclellan was born in philadelphia, pennsylvania, on december 3, 1826. What happened when union general george b mcclellan placed. A digital reproduction made from a copy held by the university of michigan is. George mcclellan wasnt actually a failure mar 05, 2012 washington post cartographer and civil war nut gene thorp argues that gen.
Why was general mcclellan reinstated as commander of. Author of mcclellans own story, the mexican war diary and correspondence of george b. Get an answer for why was general mcclellan reinstated as commander of the army of potomac. George mcclellan was a major general during the american civil war. He was residing in ohio when the civil war broke out, and was commissioned major general of ohio volunteers by the governor. A graduate of west point, mcclellan served with distinction during the mexicanamerican war 18461848, and later left the army to work on railroads until the outbreak of the american civil war 18611865. Rowland, develops his thesis that general george mcclellan has been unfairly characterized by both contemporaries and historians. Our american journey excerpts from a middle school.
Mcclellan was a push by the union army against confederate forces in southeastern virginia from march through july 1862. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. A graduate of west point, mcclellan served with distinction during the mexicanamerican war 18461848, and later left the army to work in railroads until the outbreak of the american civil war 1861. He built the army of the potomac and led it during the peninsula and maryland. After graduating 1846 from west point, he served with distinction in the mexican war and later worked on various engineering projects, notably on the survey 185354 for a. The monument is sited on a prominent location in the kalorama triangle neighborhood due to efforts made by area residents. Captain mcclellan left the army in 1857 and engaged in civil engineering and as superintendent of railroads.
Far from being a victim of the overestimates, mcclellan was a party to them. Following the fiasco at bull run, general george mcclellan was given command of the army of the potomac. His family moved within the upper ranks of philadelphia society. At walrenton there are to be 7,780 at manassas, say 10,859 in the valley of the shenandoah 35,467 on the lower potomac 1,350. Mcclellans death on october 29, 1885, hardly three months later, was sudden and unexpected, and at first it was thought he had left no written record.
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