The Civil War Papers Of George B Mcclellan

Author : Stephen W. Sears
Publisher : HMH
Page : 669 pages
File Size : 55,9 Mb
Release : 1989-02-27
Category : History
ISBN : 9780547971179

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The Civil War Papers of George B. McClellan by Stephen W. Sears Pdf

From the author of Gettysburg: A “valuable” collection of the letters of this controversial Civil War general (James M. McPherson, The New York Review of Books). No one played as many major roles during the Civil War as Gen. George B. McClellan, nor did any other figure write such candid letters about himself, his motivations, and his intentions. For Civil War buffs, this collection is a gold mine, revealing nuggets of fresh information on military operations and political machinations, from the battle of Antietam through McClellan’s 1864 race for the presidency—as well as the uninhibited correspondence McClellan wrote to his wife—selected and introduced by the prize-winning author Stephen W. Sears, “a first-class writer and splendid historian” (The Wall Street Journal). “A treasure-trove . . . Nothing of importance concerning [McClellan’s] military strategies and tactics or the politics, policies, and issues of the war has been omitted. Sears has edited the collection with consummate economy and skill, and his introductory essays to the book’s eleven sections weave the disparate facts of McClellan’s wartime experience together.” —Library Journal “The letters are most valuable as a revelation of McClellan’s personality, which lay at the root of his military failure. They make clear that his initial success and fame went to his head.” —James M. McPherson, The New York Review of Books “Introduced with insightful essays . . . [McClellan] emerges as the Captain Queeg of the Civil War.” —Harold Holzer, Chicago Tribune

Author : George Brinton McClellan
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 651 pages
File Size : 52,5 Mb
Release : 1989
Category : Generals
ISBN : 0899193773

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The Civil War Papers of George B. McClellan by George Brinton McClellan Pdf

Author : Stephen W. Sears
Publisher : HMH
Page : 515 pages
File Size : 44,7 Mb
Release : 2014-12-09
Category : History
ISBN : 9780544391222

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George B. McClellan by Stephen W. Sears Pdf

“Sears has finally unraveled the mystique of this complex, brilliant Civil War general . . . A fascinating story” (James M. McPherson, author of Battle Cry of Freedom). “Commander of the Northern army in the Civil War, Gen. George McClellan saw himself as God’s chosen instrument for saving the Union. Self-aggrandizing, with a streak of arrogant stubbornness, he set himself above President Lincoln, whom he privately called ‘the Gorilla.’ To ‘the young Napoleon,’ as McClellan’s troops dubbed him, abolition was an ‘accursed doctrine.’ Fond of conspiracy plots, he insisted that the Lincoln administration had traitorously conspired to set him up for military defeat. Although he constantly anticipated one big, decisive battle that would crush the South, he squandered one military opportunity after another, and, if Sears is correct, he was the worst strategist the Army of the Potomac ever had. Based on primary sources, letters, dispatch books, diaries, newspapers, this masterly biography is an astonishing portrait of an egotistical crank who could snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.” —Publishers Weekly “Engagingly written and thoroughly researched, Sears’s persuasive critique is the best and most complete biography of this controversial general.” —Library Journal “The best biography of McClellan ever published. Sears uses intensive research, including new material, to document the tormented, wasted military career of a talented man . . . The enigma of McClellan has never been explained so well . . . Historians should be grateful.” —The Washington Post Book World

Author : Thomas J. Rowland
Publisher : Kent State University Press
Page : 276 pages
File Size : 49,8 Mb
Release : 1998
Category : Biography & Autobiography
ISBN : 0873386035

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George B. McClellan and Civil War History by Thomas J. Rowland Pdf

Perhaps no other Union commander's legacy in the Civil War has been the subject of as much controversy as George B. McClellan's. Since the midpoint of this century, however, he has emerged as the complex general who, though gifted with administrative and organizational skills, was unable and unwilling to fight with the splendid army he had created. Thomas J. Rowland argues that this interpretation rests squarely within the context of general historical verdicts of the way in which the North eventually triumphed. Civil War scholars have found the quality of Union leadership in the early years of the war wanting, and that it was not until U.S. Grant and W.T. Sherman emerged that success was ensured. On the other hand, Grant and Sherman knew failure but were judged less harshly than was McClellan. In George B. McClellan and Civil War History, Rowland presents a framework in which early Civil War command can be viewed without direct comparison to that of the final two years.

Author : Ethan S. Rafuse
Publisher : Indiana University Press
Page : 339 pages
File Size : 53,5 Mb
Release : 2011-11-23
Category : History
ISBN : 9780253006141

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McClellan's War by Ethan S. Rafuse Pdf

“An important book that rescues George B. McClellan’s military reputation.” —Chronicles Bold, brash, and full of ambition, George Brinton McClellan seemed destined for greatness when he assumed command of all the Union armies before he was 35. It was not to be. Ultimately deemed a failure on the battlefield by Abraham Lincoln, he was finally dismissed from command following the bloody battle of Antietam. To better understand this fascinating, however flawed, character, Ethan S. Rafuse considers the broad and complicated political climate of the earlier 19th Century. Rather than blaming McClellan for the Union’s military losses, Rafuse attempts to understand his political thinking as it affected his wartime strategy. As a result, Rafuse sheds light not only on McClellan’s conduct on the battlefields of 1861-62 but also on United States politics and culture in the years leading up to the Civil War. “Any historian seriously interested in the period will come away from the book with useful material and a better understanding of George B. McClellan.” —Journal of Southern History “Exhaustively researched and lucidly written, Rafuse has done an excellent job in giving us a different perspective on ‘Little Mac.’” —Civil War History “Rafuse’s thoughtful study of Little Mac shows just how enthralling this complex and flawed individual continues to be.” —Blue & Gray magazine

Author : Warren W. Hassler
Publisher : Praeger
Page : 384 pages
File Size : 45,8 Mb
Release : 1957
Category : Biography & Autobiography
ISBN : UOM:39015038908433

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General George B. McClellan by Warren W. Hassler Pdf

A study of the Civil War career of one of the war's most controversial figures, General George B. McClellan, who was dismissed by Lincoln from his post as commander of the Army of the Potomac, in 1862.

Author : George Brinton McClellan
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 710 pages
File Size : 48,6 Mb
Release : 1886
Category : United States
ISBN : HARVARD:32044037093804

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McClellan's Own Story by George Brinton McClellan Pdf

This book is about the war for the Union, the soldiers who fought it, the civilians who directed it, and McClellan's relations to it and them. It includes a biographical sketch of G.B. McClellan and a portrait.

Author : George Brinton McClellan
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 180 pages
File Size : 55,9 Mb
Release : 1862
Category : Bayonets
ISBN : HARVARD:HN2417

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Manual of Bayonet Exercise by George Brinton McClellan Pdf

Author : John C. Waugh
Publisher : St. Martin's Press
Page : 272 pages
File Size : 42,6 Mb
Release : 2010-05-11
Category : History
ISBN : 0230106765

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Lincoln and McClellan by John C. Waugh Pdf

There was no more remarkable pair in the Civil War than Abraham Lincoln and George McClellan. At only 35 years old, McClellan commanded the Ohio troops early in the war, and won skirmishes for the Union in western Virginia. After the disastrous Union defeat at Bull Run in the summer of 1861, Lincoln sent word for McClellan to come to Washington, and soon elevated him to commander-in-chief of the Union army. But in the late summer and fall of 1861, things took a turn for the worst. Meticulous in his planning and preparations, McClellan began to delay attacking the enemy and developed a penchant for vastly overestimating the Confederate forces he faced. All of this hampered his ability to lead an aggressive force in a fast-moving battlefield environment. Finally losing his patience, Lincoln was famously quoted as saying, "If General McClellan does not want to use the army, I would like to borrow it for a time." Lincoln and McClellan takes an in-depth look at this fascinating relationship, from the early days of the Civil War to the 1864 presidential election when McClellan ran against Lincoln on an anti-war platform and lost. Here, award-winning author John C. Waugh weaves a tale of hubris, paranoia, failure, and triumph, illuminating as never before this unique and complicated alliance.

Author : George Brinton McClellan
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 708 pages
File Size : 50,6 Mb
Release : 1886
Category : United States
ISBN : BSB:BSB11571959

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McClellan's Own Story by George Brinton McClellan Pdf

Author : Edward H. Bonekemper, III
Publisher : McFarland
Page : 222 pages
File Size : 46,6 Mb
Release : 2015-06-14
Category : History
ISBN : 9781476606828

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McClellan and Failure by Edward H. Bonekemper, III Pdf

In the eyes of many historians, Union general George B. McClellan single-handedly did more damage to the Union war effort than any other individual—including Confederate commander Robert E. Lee. Promoting his own ideas and career regardless of the consequences, McClellan eventually became a thorn in the side of President Lincoln. Removed from command on November 5, 1862, McClellan left a legacy of excessive caution that continued to affect the Army of the Potomac. From West Point to Antietam, this volume examines McClellan’s army career and especially how his decisions affected the course of the Civil War. Union actions are examined in detail with special emphasis on the roles McClellan played—or did not play. Excerpts from McClellan’s orders and correspondence provide a contemporary picture and motives for his actions. An appendix examines the treatment given McClellan by various historians.

Author : Chester G. Hearn
Publisher : LSU Press
Page : 341 pages
File Size : 53,9 Mb
Release : 2012-11-05
Category : History
ISBN : 9780807145548

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Lincoln and McClellan at War by Chester G. Hearn Pdf

At the beginning of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln and his highest-ranking general, George B. McClellan, agreed that the United States must preserve the Union. Their differing strategies for accomplishing that goal, however, created constant conflict. In Lincoln and McClellan at War, Chester G. Hearn explores this troubled relationship, revealing its complexity and showing clearly why the two men -- both inexperienced with war -- eventually parted ways. A staunch Democrat who never lost his acrimony toward Republicans -- including the president -- McClellan first observed Lincoln as an attorney representing the Illinois Central Railroad and immediately disliked him. This underlying bias followed thirty-five-year-old McClellan into his role as general-in-chief of the Union army. Lincoln, a man without military training, promoted McClellan on the advice of cabinet members and counted on "Little Mac" to whip the army into shape and end the war quickly. McClellan comported himself with great confidence and won Lincoln's faith by brilliantly organizing the Army of the Potomac. Later, however, he lost Lincoln's trust by refusing to send what he called "the best army on the planet" into battle. The more frustrated Lincoln grew with McClellan's inaction, the more Lincoln studied authoritative works on military strategy and offered strategic combat advice to the general. McClellan resented the president's suggestions and habitually deflected them. Ultimately, Lincoln removed McClellan for what the president termed "the slows." According to Hearn, McClellan's intransigence stemmed largely from his reluctance to fight offensively. Thoroughly schooled in European defensive tactics, McClellan preferred that approach to fighting the war. His commander-in-chief, on the other hand, had a preference for using offensive tactics. This compelling study of two important and diverse figures reveals how personality and politics prolonged the Civil War.

Author : George Brinton McClellan
Publisher : Legare Street Press
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 40,6 Mb
Release : 2023-07-18
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 1020020296

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Speeches of Gen. George B. McClellan During the Presidential Campaign of 1876 by George Brinton McClellan Pdf

This book presents a collection of speeches by George B. McClellan, a Union general during the American Civil War and a candidate for the Presidency in 1864 and 1876. In these speeches, McClellan addresses a wide range of issues, from the rights of veterans and the need for civil service reform to the importance of maintaining national unity and preserving the Constitution. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Author : Gene M. Thorp,Alexander B. Rossino
Publisher : Casemate Publishers
Page : 81 pages
File Size : 50,5 Mb
Release : 2019-05-29
Category : History
ISBN : 9781611214635

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The Tale Untwisted by Gene M. Thorp,Alexander B. Rossino Pdf

The truth behind a Civil War controversy.“Anyone with an interest in the 1862 Maryland Campaign will find it a fascinating and illuminating read.” —D. Scott Hartwig, author of To Antietam Creek The discovery of Robert E. Lee’s Special Orders no. 191 outside of Frederick, Maryland on September 13, 1862 is one of the most important and hotly disputed events of the American Civil War. For more than 150 years historians have debated if George McClellan, commander of the Union Army of the Potomac, dawdled upon receiving a copy of the orders before warily advancing to challenge Lee’s forces at the Battle of South Mountain. In this new digital essay, the first in the Spotlight Series to be published by Savas Beatie, authors Gene Thorp and Alexander Rossino document exhaustively how “Little Mac” moved with uncharacteristic energy to counter the Confederate threat and take advantage of Lee’s divided forces, striking a blow in the process that wrecked Lee’s plans and sent his army reeling back toward Virginia. The essay is a beautifully woven tour de force of primary research that proposes to put a final word on the debate over the fate and impact of the Lost Orders on the history of the 1862 Maryland Campaign. “Thorp and Rossino make a very persuasive case for McClellan having received the Lost Orders in mid-afternoon and sending his dispatch to Lincoln at midnight on September 13th, 1862. If I were writing my Antietam book today, I would follow their account.” —James M. McPherson, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Battle Cry of Freedom

Author : Stephen W. Sears
Publisher : HMH
Page : 521 pages
File Size : 46,5 Mb
Release : 2014-11-11
Category : History
ISBN : 9780547527550

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To the Gates of Richmond by Stephen W. Sears Pdf

This account of McClellan’s 1862 campaign is “a wonderful book” (Ken Burns) and “military history at its best” (The New York Times Book Review). From “the finest and most provocative Civil War historian writing today,” To the Gates of Richmond is the story of the one of the conflict’s bloodiest campaigns (Chicago Tribune). Of the 250,000 men who fought in it, only a fraction had ever been in battle before—and one in four was killed, wounded, or missing in action by the time the fighting ended. The operation was Gen. George McClellan’s grand scheme to march up the Virginia Peninsula and take the Confederate capital. For three months McClellan battled his way toward Richmond, but then Robert E. Lee took command of the Confederate forces. In seven days, Lee drove the cautious McClellan out, thereby changing the course, if not the outcome, of the war. “Deserves to be a classic.” —The Washington Post