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Reading Shelby Foote's account of the Peninsula Campaign, Antietam, et al., I am always amazed at McClellan's overestimation of his opponent's numbers. Is there any evidence to suggest that Pinkerton's numbers were somehow PURPOSELY inflated by someone.
Reading Shelby Foote's account of the Peninsula Campaign, Antietam, et al., I am always amazed at McClellan's overestimation of his opponent's numbers. Is there any evidence to suggest that Pinkerton's numbers were somehow PURPOSELY inflated by someone.
Edwin C. Fishel's answer is yes, and that someone was George B. McClellan.
See Edwin C. Fishel, "Pinkerton and McClellan: Who Deceived Whom?" _Civil War History,_ Vol. XXXIV, No. 2, June, 1988.
Edwin C. Fishel's answer is yes, and that someone was George B. McClellan.
See Edwin C. Fishel, "Pinkerton and McClellan: Who Deceived Whom?" _Civil War History,_ Vol. XXXIV, No. 2, June, 1988.
Regards,
Cash
Edwin C. Fishel also wrote an excellent book for anyone who is interested in Civil War intelligence. He himself was a career intel officer.
Fishel's point is that if you line up Pinkerton's reports to McClellan and McClellan's reports to his superiors for a detailed examination, you'll find that:
1) Pinkerton's estimates were on the high side, sometimes naively so, indicating the lack of experience and
2) McClellan took Pinkerton's high figures and inflated them before he passed them to Lincoln/et al.
OK, thanks, I'll check that out. Is there any evidence that might suggest some agent or representative of Pinkerton overinflated the numbers because of a pro south bias?
I thought that McClellan inflated his numbers based on what his beliefs were on what was required for a specific task. Thus, to render an effective defense of Yorktown, he reasoned that the Confederate army of Jeb Magruder must be larger than his.
Guess I'll throw in my two cents worth. While I am not sure that McClellan purposely wanted inflated estimates (I'll have to go and find that article and read it) I think that he would do anything not to fight, and if that meant saying that he was vastly outnumbered and needed more men and time, he would do it. McClellan was an outstanding organization and logistical master, but when it came to leading a fighting army, he was worthless. He was scared to fight and didn't want to lose men. No general does, but its a part of war. I think he was more enamored with siege tactics than open battle. He also let himself be fooled by the enemy when it came to troop numbers, with good old "Prince John" Macgruder fooling him twice, once at Yorktown and the other time outside of Richmond. To put it simply, he was scared and a worthless commander, and would do anything not to bring on a fight.
I think Pinkerton's estimates in his early rep'ts were very close to reality but over time became more and more inaccurate. I tend to agree with those who think that Pinkerton, soon realized what McClellan wanted.
Whether McClellan knew his own mind on this matter, is a good question, but I think Pinkerton soon became aware of what McClellan 'really' wanted, from his intelligence chief and being a good business man, gave his boss what he wanted.
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McClellan and Pinkerton's Estimates 
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