Succinct assessment of Gen. George B. McClellan

The New York Times has a piece up this morning on the Manhattan Bridge, which turns 100 this year.  The vice president of the NYC Bridge Centennial Commission is Harold Holzer. 

Mr. Holzer has a small quandry.  The mayor at the time of the construction of the Manhattan Bridge was George B. McClellan Jr.  The mayor's father, George B. McClellan Sr., had led the Army of the Potomac at the beginning of the civil war, and later ran for president against Abraham Lincoln in 1864.

Holzer is the author of several books on Abraham Lincoln and is a member of the US Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.  He says he "has an antipathy to all things McClellan."

Gen. George B. McClellan, who was popular among the Union troops despite his troubles on the battlefield — “was too disrespectful too many times to Abraham Lincoln,” Mr. Holzer said. “And while I am vice chairman of the bridge commission, I am co-chairman of the U.S. Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. I have my loyalties.”

McClellan had something of a Napoleon complex, and loved striking poses.  He did, however, craft one fine army, the Army of the Potomac.  The problem was that he did everything he could to avoid using it.  The person who did know how to use it, Ulysses S. Grant, won the civil war.

The letters he wrote to his wife reveal his inflated opinion of himself.  He was going to save the nation, he'd say.  He would be the hero of all heroes.  Later letters complain about Lincoln, who was pressuring him to fight. 

If you can imagine this, Lincoln and one of his cabinet members went to McClellan's house.  McClellan wasn't there at the time, but later arrived and promptly went to bed, leaving President Lincoln sitting in the living room.  For a succinct assessment of George B. McClellan, he "was too disrespectful too many times to Abraham Lincoln," is right on the money.

Comments

[john harpel]

Truth is McClellan was out "Generaled" By Lee and was fired by Lincoln.

[John Petty]

Yeah, he was a real pip. I just got done re-reading "Battle Cry of Freedom" by James McPherson--good read.