Quotes about George B. McClellan

Abraham Lincoln

My dear McClellan: If you don't want to use the Army I should like to borrow it for a while.

When George B. McClellan was commander of the Union army, he maintained a very conservative military strategy and would not initiate any attacks. Lincoln wrote:

Dana Bash

I covered the White House during the Bush years when Ari Fleischer, Scott McClellan and Dana Perino were at the podium. We thought those were, at times, crazy press briefings, asking questions about major events like the Iraq War and the leaking of Valerie Plame's name and the outing of her as a CIA operative.

George F. Will

President Lincoln’s biggest blunder was—no not General George McClellan—creating the Agriculture Department. Since 1995, 75 percent of all agricultural subsidies have gone to the largest and wealthiest 10 percent of farms.

Actually, the Agriculture Department was one of Lincoln’s greatest achievements. The subsidies and corporate welfare came much later. The biggest benefits were the land grant collages where agricultural research improved the yields and productivity and the Agricultural Extension provided training and technical assistance to American farmers making the United States the most efficient agricultural producer in the world. The subsidies and corporate welfare had and has nothing to do with the positive initiatives that Lincoln envisioned.

Abraham Lincoln

General McClellan argues indefinite procrastination.

McClellan liked to parade and drill his troops but not fight them. Lincoln wanted him to take the offensive but the general always found an excuse not to. Many historians believe that McClellan wanted the war to end, the South to rejoin the Union and be allowed to maintain slavery. Others feel that he was just a military man who maintained his popularity by minimizing casualties. Finally, Lincoln fired McLellan and the complexion of the war changed thereafter. McClellan ran against Lincoln for the Presidency in 1864. See {633923}

Michael Hayden

In the great battle of Antietam, still the bloodiest day in American history, Union forces were led by Gen. George McClellan, an incredibly cautious man.

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Now, at that juncture, and, in fact, up to the present moment, there was, and is, a most fierce and bitter outcry, and detraction loud and low, against General McClellan, accusing him of sloth, imbecility, cowardice, treasonable purposes, and, in short, utterly denying his ability as a soldier, and questioning his integrity as a man. Nor was this to be wondered at; for when before, in all history, do we find a general in command of half a million of men, and in presence of an enemy inferior in numbers and no better disciplined than his own troops, leaving it still debatable, after the better part of a year, whether he is a soldier or no? The question would seem to answer itself in the very asking.

McClellan found many reasons to avoid engaging the Southern forces, and when battles could not be avoided, he would never pursue the enemy after an engagement but would regroup. Much public opinion was unhappy with McClellan, but he had great support among the Democrats who were not supporters of the war. Finally Lincoln fired McClellan who then ran as a Democrat against the President in 1864. McClellan looked and talked like a great general but was much averse to fighting. Once rid of McClellan, the Union Army began to have success although losses on both sides were horrendous.

Abraham Lincoln

I have just read your dispatch about sore-tongued and fatigued horses. Will you pardon me for asking what the horses of your army have done since the battle of Antietam that fatigues anything?

McClellan liked to parade and drill his troops but not fight them. Lincoln wanted him to take the offensive but he always found an excuse not to. Many historians believe that McClellan wanted the war to end, the South to rejoin the Union and be allowed to maintain slavery. Others feel that he was just a military man who maintained his popularity by minimizing casualties. Finally, Lincoln fired McClellan and the complexion of the war changed thereafter. McClellan ran against Lincoln for the Presidency in 1864. See {633923}

Joshua Chamberlain

Just after writing those we were called up to defend a new position on the left, where the terrible storming of the bridge over the Antietam took place.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Why are people so sensitive about the reputation of General [George] McClellan? There is always something rotten about a sensitive reputation. Besides, is not General McClellan an American citizen? And is it not the first attribute and distinction of an American to be abused and slandered as long as he is heard of?

Abraham Lincoln

I certainly have been dissatisfied with the slowness of Buell and McClellan; but before I relieved them I had great fears I should not find successors to them, who would do better...

This has been a problem for not only Presidents and Governors, but all managers and administrators. When to terminate a subordinate who is not performing adequately. There is always the chance that the new appointee is no better or possibly even worse.

Horace Greeley

Mr. Lincoln is already beaten.…And we must have another ticket to save us.…If we had such a ticket as could be made by naming Grant, Butler, or Sherman for President…we could make a fight yet.

Greeley was convinced that Lincoln could not win a second term against George McClellan and wanted to consider dumping Lincoln from the ticket and running someone else as the Republican nominee. Pundits have never been great predictors; Lincoln won.

George B. McClellan Quotes