McClellan was a superb quartermaster and a lousy field commander.
Ever been to Antietam? I have. He gave General Ambrose Burnside an order to cross "at the bridge."
![[Image: Antietambridge01.jpg]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/08/Antietambridge01.jpg)
The bridge is 12 feet wide and 120 feet long and Burnside tried several times to cross it. It was defended by about 500 Confederates on the heights overlooking which would have given them a clear field of fire down into the union ranks but still, they were firing single-shot muskets and could not have put up that steady a volume of fire. Nonetheless, in the packed conditions the union attempts were easily repulsed.
The real kicker is Antietam Creek itself. The battle was fought in September at the end of Summer. I was there in June shortly after the Spring rains had ended. The creek was perhaps 30 yards wide and I would estimate the depth at less than knee-high. Burnside interpreted his orders as requiring him to cross via the bridge when he could easily have sent a regiment of infantry above and below the bridge and routed the relative handful of rebels in short order. Ultimately, one union Brigade commander disobeyed orders and sent his men across the creek. By then, the movement of the whole IXth Corps was hours behind schedule and before they could effectively intervene they were intercepted by General A.P. Hill's division coming up from Harper's Ferry.
Side note: When McClellan was fired for his failure at Antietam his replacement was General Ambrose Burnside. The result was Fredericksburg. Sometimes Lincoln wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, either.
Ever been to Antietam? I have. He gave General Ambrose Burnside an order to cross "at the bridge."
The bridge is 12 feet wide and 120 feet long and Burnside tried several times to cross it. It was defended by about 500 Confederates on the heights overlooking which would have given them a clear field of fire down into the union ranks but still, they were firing single-shot muskets and could not have put up that steady a volume of fire. Nonetheless, in the packed conditions the union attempts were easily repulsed.
The real kicker is Antietam Creek itself. The battle was fought in September at the end of Summer. I was there in June shortly after the Spring rains had ended. The creek was perhaps 30 yards wide and I would estimate the depth at less than knee-high. Burnside interpreted his orders as requiring him to cross via the bridge when he could easily have sent a regiment of infantry above and below the bridge and routed the relative handful of rebels in short order. Ultimately, one union Brigade commander disobeyed orders and sent his men across the creek. By then, the movement of the whole IXth Corps was hours behind schedule and before they could effectively intervene they were intercepted by General A.P. Hill's division coming up from Harper's Ferry.
Side note: When McClellan was fired for his failure at Antietam his replacement was General Ambrose Burnside. The result was Fredericksburg. Sometimes Lincoln wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, either.
