George B. McClellan and Civil War history : in the shadow of Grant and Sherman

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. Perhaps no other Union commander's reputation has been the subject of as much controversy as George B. McClellan's. Thomas J. Rowland presents a framework in which early Civil War command can be viewed without direct comparison to that of the final two years. Such comparisons, in his opinion, are both unfair and contextually inaccurate. Only by understanding how very different was the context and nature of the war facing McClellan, as opposed to Grant and Sherman, can one discard the traditional "good general-bad general" approach to command performance. In such a light, McClellan’s career, both his shortcomings and accomplishments, can be viewed with clearer perspective. - Publisher. Of statues and shadows A foray into the twilight zone Little Mac's peccadilloes The struggle becomes remorseless Dodging the Albatross : McClellan and Grant and the safety of Washington On to Richmond : illusion of easy victory, 1861-1862 The first will be last and the last will be first Bagging Bobby Lee Emerging from the shadows In this volume, the author presents a framework in which early American Civil War command can be viewed with direct comparison to that of the final two years. In this way, he aims to show that McClellan's career, both his shortcomings and accomplishments, can be viewed with clearer perspective.