Essay Example

Here are the Questions that the essay are answering:

1. Why was George B. McClellan appointed commander of the Union army?

2. What impact did McClellan have on the U.S. army? Were they successful?

3. How did McClellan lose his job as commander? What were the reasons?

Name

Mr. Mullady

U.S. History

Topic: George B. McClellan

George B. McClellan attended the United States Military Academy at West Point and graduated second in his class. Following his graduation, McClellan served during the Mexican-American War and spent several months traveling around Europe learning new military tactics. McClellan returned to the United Stats, and soon resigned from the United States military.

When the Civil War broke out in April of 1861, McClellan reenlisted in the U.S. army and was assigned to defend Ohio from the Confederate forces. He achieved success in securing supplies for the army and was promoted for his actions. That fall, McClellan led an army into Northern Virginia and successfully defeated two Confederate forces. With this early success, McClellan was soon regarded as one of the most talented and intelligent military commanders in the Union Army.

Following the Union defeat at the Battle of Bull Run, Abraham Lincoln appointed McClellan commander of the Army of the Potomac. McClellan immediately began to transform the U.S. army and initiated a standard training manual for soldiers. McClellan’s army spent the next several months transforming itself into an organized fighting force.

McClellan’s reorganization of the army did not lead to success on the battlefield. After the defeats at the Second Battle of Bull Run and Antietam, Abraham Lincoln began to question McClellan’s effectiveness and leadership skills. Lincoln removed McClellan from command of the Army of the Potomac.