Logistical Challenges Quotes
This quotation is noteworthy for two reasons. First, it shows the ineptness of the Continental Congress and the tendency not to want to spend money on the military even in a crisis. America really did not enthusiastically appropriate money for military until WWII and since then, military spending has dominated the American Federal budget. The second reason is that it shows the myth that Colonial America was full of men each armed with their gun and Americans were expert at using them. Most of the men joining Washington’s Army did not own a gun and had little or no skill with guns. See {613056}. Early America was not a gun culture. Guns were expensive, needed maintenance, took too long to reload, and were not as effective for most purposes as other weapons like hatchets and knives. American Colonial war was mostly hand to hand combat with relatively little shooting.
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}
