McClellan and Failure: A Study of Civil War Fear, Incompetence and Worse

Bonekemper, Edward H., III

ISBN 10: 0786428945 / ISBN 13: 9780786428946

Published by McFarland Publishing, 2007

About this Item

Minor shelf and handling wear, overall a clean solid copy with minimal signs of use. Secure packaging for safe delivery.

Seller Inventory # 1547234421

Bibliographic Details

• Title: McClellan and Failure: A Study of Civil War Fear, Incompetence and Worse
• Publisher: McFarland Publishing
• Publication Date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0786428945
• ISBN 13: 9780786428946
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Very Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket
• Weight: 2.25 pounds

About this title

Synopsis

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. McClellan s success in the Mexican War along with his prestigious position as president of the Eastern Division of the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad had left him well positioned to enter the Union Army when hostilities began. Originally a major general in command of the Ohio Volunteers, McClellan attained the same rank in the regular Army three weeks after the beginning of the Civil War. Promoting his own ideas and career regardless of the consequences, McClellan spent his Civil War command defying his superiors and attempting to avoid battle, eventually becoming a thorn in the side of President Lincoln and the Union cause. Removed from command on November 5, 1862, McClellan s overly cautious attitude nevertheless permeated the Army of the Potomac for years. From West Point to Antietam, this volume examines his Army career. The main focus of the work is McClellan s Civil War service and the ways in which the man and his decisions affected the course of the war. The Union Army s invasion of northern Virginia, the Peninsula Campaign and the Second Battle of Bull Run are examined in detail with special emphasis on the roles which McClellan played or did not play. Through a combination of incompetence and paranoia, McClellan managed to throw away numerous chances at a Union victory and, consequently, a quicker end to the war. Excerpts from McClellan s orders and correspondence provide a contemporary picture and firsthand motives for his actions. An appendix examines the treatment given McClellan by various historians. Assorted maps and an index are also included.

About the Author

Edward H. Bonekemper, III is a visiting lecturer in Military History at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He lives in Willow Street, Pennsylvania.