The George Brinton McClellan Thread

samgrant · #1 02-08-2006, 10:14 PM

For all things McClellan, like him or don't. (I sometimes feel sorry for the guy.)

At any rate, I thought he deserved his own thread as he already has his own web page:

http://www.georgebmcclellan.org/

Let me lead things off by this from Lincoln Finds A General Vol. 1 by Kenneth P. Williams:

"Lincoln also probably realized that the Confederates would note the added proof of McClellan's supercaution and would duly capitalize upon it. But he could not have foreseen that on April 22 Joe Johnston, after an inspection of Magruder's lines, would write to Lee, "No one but McClellan could have hesitated to attack." In military history it would be difficult to find a more crushing judgment than that."

ewc · #2 02-10-2006, 01:11 PM

McClellan was unfortunately too busy trying to fight his supposed enemies in his rear than real enemies in his front. It didn't help either that the Confederates' huge ghost army had him rattled.

nbforrest · #3 02-10-2006, 01:20 PM

One of my favorite websites for a good laugh! The other probably being Hood's apologist site.
Was McClellan totally incompetent? Not at all. And any analysis of him must give him credit for the organization of the AOP out of the Manassas fiasco. But as much as I have tried to understand the arguments of Mac's defenders, I just can't agree with them. When it is all said and done, I just don't think he had the necessary skills to carry out an effective offensive campaign. I think he was one of those generals who is afraid to take casualties, but that merely results in more bloody battles in the long run. I might roughly compare him to Montgomery of WWII in that sense.

Respectfully

ole · #4 02-10-2006, 01:33 PM

One of the most difficult aspects of L'il Mac is trying to find something new to say about him. I'll venture that he seemed devoted to his wife, and probably didn't kick anyone else's dog.
Ole

nbforrest · #5 02-10-2006, 02:18 PM

Very true. I think McClellan might be one of the few generals where the general interpretation of him was correct the first time...those who try to reinterpret his abilities don't really seem to have much to hang on.

Respectfully

william42 · #6 02-10-2006, 09:54 PM

Forrest: I think you pretty much hit the nail on the head with the phrase,"afraid to take casualties". As long as McClellan didn't get the AOP into a fight, he could claim success. He organized the army superbly, raised morale to new heights, the men loved him. That part he was great at. I think deep down he lacked confidence in himself when it came down to battlefield strategy, tactics etc. So in his mind, way in the back, he may have been very afraid of getting his butt kicked. It was only when he had vastly superior numbers, and all the i's dotted and t's crossed that he actually stepped over the line and sent his army into battle. Even then he was still convinced he was outnumbered and at a disadvantage.

Terry

samgrant · #7 02-10-2006, 10:57 PM

"On July 2 Morris (Brig. Gen. T. A. Morris in West Virginia)asked for reenforcements ... the next day McClellan replied... After lecturing his subordinate in a lofty tone, the man who had not yet heard the noise of battle said to the man who had: "I propose taking the really difficult and dangerous part of this work on my own hands. I will not ask you to do anything I would not be willing to do myself. But let us understand each other. I can give you no more re-enforcements ... Do not ask for further re-enforcements. If you do, I shall take it as a request to be relieved from your command and to return to Indiana."

So wrote the general who a few months later began pressing his superiors for reenforcements. A man who could write like that, who had no military achievement to his credit - except the invention of an uncomfortable saddle - was not likely to prove fit for high command."

- from Lincoln Finds A General, Vol. 1 by Kenneth P. Williams

(I love this book, the author has a unique understated sense of humor throughout the narrative.)

samgrant · #8 03-06-2006, 09:07 PM

As concern deepened about the Confederate threat to the North in late June 1863, Governor Joel Parker of New Jersey wired Lincoln:

"The people of New Jersey are apprehensive that the invasion of the enemy may extend to their soil ... The people of New Jersey want McClellan at the head of the Army of the Potomac. If that cannot be done, then we ask that he may be put at the head of the New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania troops now in Pennsylvania, defending these Middle States from invasion. If either appointment be made, the people would rise en masse."

Lincoln replied:

"I beg you to be assured that no one out of my position can know so well, as if he were in it, the difficulties and involvements of replacing General McClellan in command, and this aside from any imputations upon him."

ole · #9 03-06-2006, 09:18 PM

Quote:

"I beg you to be assured that no one out of my position can know so well, as if he were in it, the difficulties and involvements of replacing General McClellan in command, and this aside from any imputations upon him."

Pat them on the head and send them away. Whuh?
Ole

matthew mckeon · #10 03-06-2006, 09:58 PM

I sometimes feel a contrarian view of things.

Jefferson Davis: easy to criticize, not so easy to replace.

George McClellan: his troops absolutely loved him. If he was the twit the history books said he was, why did they? I mean, after several battles and so forth.

The French Army. Spare me the cheap shots unless you've faced the panzers yourself.

Braxton Bragg.....Ok never mind.