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.One involved Major General John A.McClernand, a Democrat and fellow townsman who in September came to Washington with a plan to raise another army, descend the Mississippi, and capture Vicksburg.The task had already been assigned to Grant, but because McClernand promised to raise thousands of volunteers, which the army desperately needed, Lincoln approved the plan because it sounded feasible and would encourage political support from Democrats.McClernand’s training as a lawyer enabled him to write creative battle reports, making him appear as a skillful tactician when he was actually more like Butler and Banks.Lincoln envisioned a massive pincers movement on Vicksburg with Grant striking from the rear, the Union navy striking from the river, Banks advancing from the south, and McClernand advancing from the north.Lincoln believed, as did Stanton, that McClernand surpassed Grant as a military tactician, which attests to the inability of the president and the secretary of war to evaluate smooth-talking politicians with stars on their shoulder straps.Stanton wanted to see what a nonprofessional soldier could do, so in October Lincoln authorized McClernand to build his army and by doing so may have set back the capture of Vicksburg by several months.Halleck, always skeptical of amateur generals, knew nothing of the president’s special arrangement with McClernand until December.41A few days after replacing Buell, Rosecrans moved eastward, and Grant commenced operations against Vicksburg.Banks sailed for Louisiana, and Burnside headed south.McClernand prepared to descend the Mississippi River with an independent command to join Grant.Halleck made it unclear whether McClernand or Grant would head operations at Vicksburg.Lincoln expected good results on all fronts.With his confidence revived, he made frequent visits to the telegraph office, expecting to hear good news from his generals.He was unprepared for the outcome.42chapter 12“If there is a worse place than Hell, I am in it”Lincoln chose Ambrose Burnside, a thirty-eight-year-old poker player with the flourishing sideburns, because he thought the general would fight better as an independent commander than a corps commander serving under McClellan.Burnside had twice refused command of the Army of the Potomac, which Lincoln interpreted as coming not from a man lacking confidence but from one who valued his friendship with McClellan more than he valued his own promotion.After Burnside made a misstep at Antietam, his relationship with McClellan cooled.Lincoln never knew of the problem.Burnside, however, participated in battles; McClellan never did.The men adored the sight of McClellan prancing about on his horse during reviews, but they never saw him rallying troops or facing fire on a battlefield.1Although a brilliant organizer and administrator, the Young Napoleon was not a warrior.Burnside knew something about fighting, but his mind worked slowly.On November , , it became Burnside’s turn to breathe life into the ,-man Army of the Potomac by scoring a victory before winter brought campaigning to an end.After being superseded by Burnside, McClellan informed his wife, “They have made a great mistake.Alas for my poor country!”2A congenial man with a powerful build, Burnside stood six feet tall.He exuded confidence in social gatherings, and people mistook his affability for wisdom.His distinguishing feature, heavy whiskers flowing from his jowls, compensated for his barren pate.He could look dashing and brave, which he was, and also intelligent, which he was not.He had graduated in the middle of the West Point class of , but as one observer noted,“When he first talked with you, you would think he had a great deal more intelligence than he really possessed.You had to know him some time before you really took his measure.” Burnside disliked problems requiring dexterous decision making and preferred being told what to do.As General Meade observed, “Burn” made a good subordinate commander, but he did not have the brains to command a large army [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]