First among these unsuccessful
generals was George B. McClellan, who had been called to
Washington after the battle of Bull Run and placed in charge of
the great new army of three years' volunteers that was pouring so
rapidly into the city. McClellan proved a wonderful organizer.
Under his skilful direction the raw recruits went to their camps
of instruction, fell without confusion or delay into brigades and
divisions, were supplied with equipments, horses and batteries,
and put through a routine of drill, tactics and reviews that soon
made this Army of the Potomac, as it was called, one of the best
prepared armies the world has ever seen--a perfect fighting
machine of over 150,000 men and more than 200 guns. General
McClellan excelled in getting soldiers ready to fight, but he did
not succeed in leading them to fruitful victory. At first the
administration had great hopes of him as a commander. He was
young, enthusiastic, winning, and on arriving in Washington
seemed amazed and deeply touched by the confidence reposed in
him. "I find myself," he wrote to his wife, "in a new and strange
position here, President, cabinet, General Scott, and all,
deferring to me. By some strange operation of magic I seem to
have become the power of the land." His rise in military rank had
equaled the inventions of fairy tales. He had been only a captain
during the Mexican war.
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