Saphroneth
Lt. Colonel
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2017
Split from another thread to avoid clogging it up. Basic intent is to discuss the nature of McClellan's campaigns and what options he had.
So I'll be looking at these in a moment.
I also want to avoid the 'McClellan-Go-Round' and note that this is largely an opinion/hypothetical thread so I will keep it brief. So, here's my list (opinion):
Ball's Bluff (McClellan in command of units present but not present himself) - Major US Defeat (in a small battle);
Prior to Peninsula Campaign (McClellan ordered to attack CS at Manassas and Centreville but doesn't do so and instead suggests Urbanna Plan. CS J E Johnston shifts forces to a new defensive line so Urbanna Plan is nullified;
Peninsula Campaign (conceived by McClellan and under his command) had the goal of capturing Richmond but ended with McClellan withdrawing the army from the Peninsula and included the battles of orktown [US 60K, CS 13K - US does not attack], Seven Pines/Fair Oaks [US 34K, CS 39K - CS attacks with end result of draw/stalemate], Seven Days [US 115K, CS 92K - CS attacks and US ends Peninsula Campaign];
Sharpsburg/Antietam [US 87K, CS 38K - Technical US Victory] where McClellan should have crushed the CS army (given his vastly superior numbers) but to me only managed another stalemate as Lee withdrew his army in good order and McClellen did not pursue them.
[Note: Force numbers mentioned above are approximate as I did not go into detail and generally sourced those numbers from Wikipedia.]
By all means start another thread, that's up to you and it may be best or we'll drift too far from the OP. My vote in a hypthotical situation "If not Grant, then who?" is Hancock and yours is McClellan.
As I said in my earlier post "Force numbers mentioned above are approximate as I did not go into detail and generally sourced those numbers from Wikipedia" so they were only rough guides but I think the end results stand.
In terms of the Urbanna Plan, I disagree that "Lincoln killed the plan". Lincoln didn't like it but he did approve it [see link] but the Plan was null and void once Johnson moved his defensive line.
So I'll be looking at these in a moment.