General McClellan: Caution in Context | Civil War Profiles | Union Army of the Potomac | US history скачать в хорошем качестве

General McClellan: Caution in Context | Civil War Profiles | Union Army of the Potomac | US history

Common questions surround George McClellan, the general of the Army of the Potomac, including: Why was McClellan so cautious? Was McClellan a good general? Was McClellan a bad general? Why didn't McClellan defeat the Confederates at Antietam? These are simple questions to complicated issues. McClellan was both a great organizer as well as an overcautious general. He was very popular among his men but also unpopular with President Lincoln. McClellan successfully dislodged the rebels from West Virginia in 1861, opening that state to political determination. McClellan's Peninsular Campaign attempted to go around Joseph E. Johnston's army and strike Richmond after capturing Yorktown, Virginia. McClellan believed he was greatly outnumbered, as he received large figures from Allan Pinkerton's detectives. McClellan was at the gates of Richmond when Robert E. Lee counterattacked. McClellan actually won battles, such as Malvern Hill, but he was pushed back to the James River. General Halleck of the Union high command ordered McClellan to end the Peninsular campaign and return to Washington. However, Lee crushed General Pope at Second Bull Run or Manassas. Lee then invaded Maryland. McClellan pursued, engaging him at South Mountain and at Sharpsburg at Antietam Creek. Many wonder why McClellan didn't defeat Lee finally at Antietam. In context, we see that Union attacks against Lee were often met with terrible results, such as Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. McClellan at Antietam activated one corps at a time, which may have limited the panic caused when that corps was thrown back. Burnside was unable to coordinate his flanking maneuver with other corps commanders. President Lincoln finally lost patience with McClellan after Antietam. Antietam was enough of a victory that Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, but McClellan did not follow through with a decisive victory. It would take the Union Army two more years before Meade and Grant would be so close to Richmond as McClellan was in 1862. McClellan is an important figure in the American Civil War and United States history. Some nicknames for McClellan are "Little Mac" or "Young Napoleon." This short film was produced by Jeffrey Meyer, librarian and historian.