I guess I am implying that some see him as not a “Disaster” and I think that to be the case, he has defenders does he not?
I am in the middle of a course on American Civil War Command and Leadership, and specifically the Joseph T. Glatthaar book Partners In Command. Glatthaar’s assessment of McClellan is scathing, but then again most are. I know that maybe Dimitri and some others might object, but how on God’s green (er, brown) earth can anyone say that McClellan was not a mitigated disaster and extended the war by perhaps as a long as a year and cost the country so many more lives?
I am obviously not a historian (though I hope I am in training) and am very aware of this. So I understand that I still have more to learn about McClellan.
So for now, lets look at what I know:
His habitual inclination of paralysis by over-analysis… to say the least. During his Seven Days Campaign and his Antietam debacle in particular.
His arrogance and temperance that did not allow him to work with both those above and below him. In specific, his contemptible behavior towards Pope and his refusal to reinforce during the Second Bull Run defeat.
But perhaps most significantly, it certainly appears he was a man who had never really experienced defeat or failure and the thought of it caused him much delay.
Yes, very general statements.
It seems there were very real opportunities to take the war to Richmond in 1862, and perhaps decimate Lee and his army at Antietam, yet McClellan was not able to do so.
Sorry for my delay with these. I have given the best description I can, if someone who has been there more than once can add some commentary (or correct me if I am mistaken) please do!!
Lincoln Memorial.
My kids and I read the “Gettysburg Address” together here near the location where Lincoln gave it somewhere amongst the gravestones that now occupy that sacred ground.
I forget where exactly this was on W. Confederate Ave., but thought it was a pretty photo.
Gen. Reynolds.
Soldier’s Monument.
Another, but closer.
Virginia Memorial.
DEVIL’S DEN
Of course this was the reason for my coming to Gettysburg. To walk the ground where my ancestor fought. My mother was a Weygant and related to Col. Charles Weygant.
Looking down towards Devil’s Den from Little Round Top.
Looking up towards Little Round Top from the top of Devil’s Den.
The Triangular Field where the 124th NY Regiment desperately fought that day (July 2, 1863).
Col. Ellis Monument. Col. Ellis was the original Colonel of the regiment and led them into the battle, but died there on the field. (That’s me standing next to it.)
Looking up from the rock wall towards Ellis’s monument.
I do believe this is a video I will use during my general U.S. History class… it will hold their attention far more than watching the actual video clip from the movie… what do you think?
OK, sharing some random stuff here but I am still trying to get my life back in order some… so bare with me. Anyway, found these during one of my document scavenger hunts recently. CLICK ON THEM TO ENLARGE!
Well we just pulled in this afternoon from our 3500 mile trek to Gettysburg (and other places) and back here to our Colorado sanctuary. The trip was fantastic and the experience of being there at the battlefield and going to the very ground where my ancestor fought was very powerful and I will never forget it. Here are just a few photos and I will post more tomorrow along with some ramblings later in the week…
Hope you enjoyed these few photos and I will post some more stuff later in the week…
Well 5 days into the journey and I am in Chicago, IL, visiting my family. Yesterday we went into town and Michigan Ave. where I was able to spend some time at Borders (bookstore) and check out their Civil War selection. I thought it was impressive. I wanted to pick up a good battlefield guide in preparation for Gettysburg. I decided on Jeff Shaara’s Civil War Battlefields: Discovering America;s Hallowed Ground, and am happy I did. I found its section on Gettysburg to be insightful and engaging. He also gives a suggested “sequence” for what you should visit first, second, third, ect. which I think I will following to a point.
I also picked up a copy of Eric’s regimental history of the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry, “Rush’s Lancers”, which I have read through a bit and am enjoying. (NOTE: Eric had several books available at this store, so congrats!) Eric has a nice narrative style, great command of the story, and of course his research is incredible. He is very close to the regiment and has been studying them for some time now. I actually think his narrative style and mine are somewhat similar. Though his experience as a writer is an obvious separation point.
Today I drove up to the Wisconsin Historical Society on the campus of the Wisconsin University in Madison. I spent 5-6 hours in the archives looking through all the materials I had requested (photocopied) for me during my research of the 11th Wisconsin, and also made a few more copies of some things that I might include if able. I also found some as-yet-to-be transcribed letters by the regiment’s head surgeon, Dr. Strong, who I am preparing a biography on as my next project. (More on that later.)
Well, will report in when I get to Pennsylvania and my wife’s side of the family which was the main reason we made the trip ya know, to see the in-laws. It’s been 7 years since we have been back there and at that time I did not make it to the Hallowed Ground.
Civil War reconstruction period letter from a Freedman Bureau minister located at the Tyler House, Fort Monroe, VA. Letter was written by Samuel J. Whiton on April 17, 1866 to his parents Deacon Chauncey Whiton of Westford, Conn. This letter is for auction on ebay and I felt compelled to post it here as we do not know whom may purchase it or where it will end up:
Tyler House, Ft. Monroe
Virginia, Apr. 17th 1866
My Dear Father & Mother:
Your letter has just come, and as usual I seat myself at once to reply. It is so damp and chilly that I can not go out among the people, and besides I am rather lame from my horseback ride of sixteen miles on Sunday. I could not get a wagon, and so I went on horseback to the Whiting and Downey farms to preach. It was a beautiful day, as warm as our another June, and I quite enjoyed the trip. I went alone, and some of the way the road wound around through pine forests. The whiting farm is on the Yorktown road, and McClellan’s army passed it on their Peninsular campaign. Now and then I passed a freedman’s cabin, or caught sight of an apple orchard in full bloom. A veil of blue smoke half hid the distant woods. I was quite a while on the way, for I am not a good horseman enough to trot much. I was cordially received by the people, who gathered in the little slab school house. The building was necessarily plain, but well filled with people. I made another appointment for preaching there in two weeks, and immediately after the close of services left for the Downey Farm. It was a ride of three miles over a strange road, but by inquiring I found my way. I rode up to one of the cabins, and got a drink of water, where a colored man kindly brought me without my dismounting. In hour or so brought me to the Downey Farm, where the Misses Stuart have been teaching. Here I had a nice dinner, and as I pleasant chat with the teachers and a Mr. Badger from Mass. At 3 P.M. I preached to a large audience. The room was very quiet, and we felt the Spirits presence. After meeting I rode home, when I arrived about dark. Eating supper, I went with the ladies to the Methodist Church, and heard their minister’s farewell discourse. I think I shall get used to horseback riding if I stay in Virginia. I had a very steady pony, “Old George,†belonging to the Freedman’s Bureau.
The religious interest here continues and increase. Last Thursday night twenty three came forward for prayer at the 1st Baptist Church. Twenty-six were baptized last Sunday, and many more will be soon. I am so sorry to be lame just now, so that I can not visit. But I think I shall be out tomorrow among the people. I should come to day if it was pleasant.
Mr. & Mrs Paine and Miss Brigham have gone home. I am now the only man at the Tyler House. There are twelve ladies. We are getting along very pleasantly.
There was a celebration over the passage of the Civil Rights Bill yesterday at Norfolk, procession, speeches &c. among the colored people. The rebels fired into them, and the blacks returned fire, and five men are reported killed. Of course there is intense excitement all around.
We are to have a celebration of colored people here on Wednesday. I do not think the rebels will dare interfere, for the blacks greatly outnumber them. They will fare hard if they do. I am afraid if Johnson goes on so there will be more fighting yet. The Mess Stuarts at the Downey Farm have had their lives threatened. I think we shall not be harmed.
By Rufus R. Dawes, 1838-1899. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Dawes organized a volunteer unit from Mauston in June and was soon elected captain. Company K was mustered into the 6th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, which served for the first months of the war on guard duty in Washington D.C.. In June 1862, Dawes was promoted to major. He served with his regiment at the Battle of Groveton and at Antietam and Fredericksburg In March 1863, Dawes received a promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel and served in the Chancellorsville Campaign.
During the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg on July 1, 1863, Dawes led a counterattack on Joseph R. Davis’s Confederate brigade of Mississippians, many of which were sheltered in an unfinished railroad cut west of town. He forced the surrender of over 200 enemy soldiers. He later served that year in the Mine Run Campaign. During a furlough, Dawes returned to Ohio and married Mary Beman Gates (1842-1921), a New Englander, on January 18, 1864. Returning to the Army of the Potomac, he served at the Battle of the Wilderness and the Siege of Petersburg. In July 1864, Dawes was offered the full rank of colonel, but declined the promotion. He mustered out of the army on August 10, 1864, following the fights at Spotsylvania and Cold Harbor. His regiment became known as “The Bloody 6th,” as it suffered the highest casualties per capita of any regiment in the Civil War.
I guess I am implying that some see him as not a “Disaster” and I think that to be the case, he has defenders does he not?
Posted in American History, Civil War, Eastern Theater, Historians | 
1 Comment » | January 12th, 2010
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