re: Thoughts on George B McClellan

McClellan was likely borderline personality. He was a splitting personality, had unstable relationships, a distorted self-image - all borderline characteristics.

He bragged quite a bit in letters about his brilliance and his generaling skills - especially to his wife. He believed himself to be divinely selected to win the war but he was very hesitant to march into battle. And once confronted with his men dying was even more hesitant.

Several times, in each of his stints with the Army of the Potomac, he was duped by earth works that suggested Lee had more men than he had.

The Pinkerton estimates were in later campaigns - early on, it was McClellan and his men that made them. When McClellan was making the estimates, Lee never had more than 50,000 troops - the Little General had 120,000.

McClellan was one of the great organizing and drilling generals in American history. He showed great confidence which his soldiers embraced. But in terms of a fighting general - average to below average.

McClellan is the Civil War Montgomery. If you want more background on this, there is an outstanding book called lincoln's lieutenants which goes into all the intrigue in the Army of the Potomac