George B. McClellan: The Young Napoleon

by Stephen W. Sears

Book Overview

Neither an indictment nor an apologia, this biography draws entirely on primary sources to create a splendid, incisive portrait of this contradictory Union general. 27 illustrations. 5 maps.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0899192645
• ISBN13: 9780899192642
• Release Date: January 1988
• Publisher: Stan Clark Military Books
• Length: 482 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.

Customer Reviews

George B. McClellan

Stephen W. Sears proves once again that he is a master of Civil War histories. A must ead for students of America's greatest conflect.

No one Knows McClellan Bettter than Sears

Perhaps no one was a better organizer of an Army during both sides of the Civil War than George McCellan. He took a dispirited army after the defeat of the First Bull Run and equipped it, drilled it and raised its morale to an effective unit. Unfortunately, McClellan could not mobilize into battle or effectively command when in battle. During the Seven days battles, McClellan left his army disorganized at Glendale and hugged a ship in the James letting his army fight for it's life without a commander. McClellan's initial movements outside the gates of Washington were so sloth like that Joseph Johnson's Confederates moved out of their forward positions unchallenged with the aid of their "Quaker Guns" (fake cannons). Sears captures the tremendous ego of McClellan through McClellan's letters, orders and first hand accounts. McClellan, who was so disrespectful to Lincoln personally and among his generals, is given a second chance at Antietam where he had captured Lee's strategic dispatch only to squander his great opportunity on uncoordinated attacks allowing Lee to defend with limited resources. The popularity among his generals and his troops was a great concern to the Lincoln administration due to McClellan's references to marching on Washington and his leniancy toward the Confederates. Fed by incompetent spys and paranoia, McClellan imagined that the Confederates had a huge numerical adventage over hhis armies when the reverse was true. Sears has made virtually a career of understanding McClellan and his command. A fascinating book and time, the fear of McClellan's military politics contributed to General John Porter's courtmartial and the oppressive Congressional Conduct on the War Committee. A great book on an extremely capable, egotistical yet limited personality. Sears captures the man and all the conspiracies in the Army of the Potomac. After reading this book, you will understand why Lincoln took a shot at having a Western Commander come east, General Pope, after dealing with McClellan.

The Compleat Failure

George Brinton McClellan was an excellent engineer, a good businessman, an outstanding military administrator. He was also incredibly lucky.  But none of this saved him when he became commander of the Army of the Potomac.  As a general, he failed miserably. Sears puts his finger on McClellan's weak point: his utter inability to deal with uncertainty.  In his entire Civil War career, McClellan planned and fought only one battle, Antietam.  And he only fought because Lee blindly refused the chance to run away that McClellan held out to him for two days running.  The rest of the battles fought by Union forces McC. commanded were planned and commanded by others, and in all but two cases, he wasn't even with the troops that were fighting.  In both those cases, he never gave an order once the shooting began.  This is moral cowardice of the worst sort, and utterly contemptible. Stephen Sears goes through the details of McClellan's dismal performance as a general, showing how badly McClellan failed the Union and the Army he genuinely loved.  It's rather repititious at times, but that's because McClellan was rather repititious.  He made the same errors again and again, for the same reasons. If you're interested in the life of George B. McClellan, Stephen Sears will take you right to the craven, bigoted, close-minded heart of his subject.  An unpleasant subject, well examined.

Best book written about the Young Napoleon

I've been facinated with McClellan for several years now and Stephen Sears's book is without question the best ever written about the Young Napoleon. He follows Mac's life as a child prodigy at West Point, through his Civil War years and beyond.George McClellan to me is perhaps one of the most fascinating man of the Civil War. He commanded the AOP for only 18 months but his shadow hung over it for the entire war. Very Charismatic and a brilliant administrator but also a man who suffered from bouts of paranoia and indecisiveness to the point that he would become incapable of taking any action with his army. Twice being put in charge of the Army of the Potomac he was the Civil War version of a deer in the headlights being frozen into an inability to take any action.One thing I like about this book is it's fair. It's critical of McClellan when it needs to be such as his time on the Peninsula but also shows how brilliant he was in his whipping the Army of the Potomac into a proper fighting force. Sears makes special point for example to talk about how successful McClellan is after the war as Governor of New Jersey and as a railroad executive. At the same time Sears looks at the darker parts of McClellan, especially his paranoia which at times would lead him to see enemies at every corner and a Confederate army many times it's actual size.Lastly with Stephen Sears you get a very well written book. No dry writing here. Sears is a talented writer whose books read like a good novel.

If it fit...wear it.

I had profound understanding of George McClellan after reading this book. Stephen Sears, I thought did a fantastic job in bring the truth about this historical character. Some readers may be slightly turned off by this biography since Sears proves to be totally unforgiving toward McClellan. His mistakes, personality and his delusions are presented here starkly, honestly and without mercy. But before anyone think this is a hack job on poor McClellan, think again. Sears presented his facts clearly, logically and with candor. Of course, McClellan wasn't a total dunderhead. He created the famous Army of the Potomac, organized it, reformed it and gave it life which lasted until the end of the war. For that, he deserves the thanks of the Union and a honor place among the heroes of the North. But what curse McClellan was his abilities as a combat leader. McClellan simply didn't know how to used this terrible swift sword, acting as if it was made of glass instead. Sears made it plain that his ineptness as the battle commander doomed McClellan's reputation forever. By far, this book will be considered as a definitive biography on George McClellan for some times to come. When you read it, you will discovered why Robert E. Lee loved him so much as his opposing commander. I would too if I was Lee!!