Chapter 20: Lincoln Goads McClellan into Moving on Richmond

As the war rages in the west, Lincoln is frustrated by General McClellan’s failure to advance south, including a stinging written rebuke: If you don’t want to use the army, I should like to borrow it for a while.

Despite concerns about leaks, on January 12, 1862, “Little Mac” reveals his proposal to transport his army by sea down to Urbanna at the tip of the Virginia Peninsula and drive up from there to conquer Richmond. While Lincoln expresses concern about retaining enough troops up north to defend DC, he goes along with McClellan’s plan. But then time passes, and the President again weighs in.

On March 11, 1862 he demotes Mac from General-in-Chief to Commander of the Army of the Potomac, so he can focus exclusively on the invasion. McClellan is furious, privately accusing Lincoln of sabotaging his career. Still on March 17, he begins transporting a wave of 121,000 troops and support supplies toward his destination at Ft. Monroe.