George B. McClellan and Civil War History
Subtitle: In the Shadow of Grant and Sherman
By: Thomas J. Rowland.
Publisher: Kent State University Press
Published: 1998
Place of publication: Kent, Ohio
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 248
Copyright date: 1998
Subjects: McClellan, George Brinton, 1826-1885 -- Military leadership.; Command of troops -- History -- 19th century.; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Campaigns.
Description: 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.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 239-242) and index.
Table of contents: title: Of statues and shadows; title: A foray into the twilight zone; title: Little Mac's peccadilloes; title: The struggle becomes remorseless; title: Dodging the Albatross : McClellan and Grant and the safety of Washington; title: On to Richmond : illusion of easy victory, 1861-1862; title: The first will be last and the last will be first; title: Bagging Bobby Lee; title: Emerging from the shadows