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> I think he was genuinely reluctant to ratchet up the slaughter of his countrymen, especially when he had the clear advantage. Yes, they were his fellow count
by sverige 8y ago
> I think he was genuinely reluctant to ratchet up the slaughter of his countrymen, especially when he had the clear advantage.
Yes, they were his fellow countrymen in a sense, but they had declared themselves to be another country and were, in fact, his enemies. That reluctance is a serious flaw in a general.
- Isamu 8y ago>That reluctance is a serious flaw in a general. Agreed. But regarding your other point, it was actually the official position of the federal government (Union) that the South was still a part of the union, and that the confederate government was illegitimate and in rebellion. So, still fellow countrymen. And I imagine he still admired Lee greatly, many did.
- not_weev 8y agoThe slaughter McClellan was concerned about, and the source of his timidity, was that of his own men. That Grant & Meade had no such compunction is precisely why Lincoln turned to them. The Union victory then became a simple matter of attrition and its willingness to bleed.
- philwelch 8y ago"I can't spare this man--he fights."