细节
McCLELLAN, GEORGE BRINTON, Major General, Autographÿ letter signed ("McClellan") TO GENL. AMBROSE BURNSIDE, "Head-Quarters of the Army" [of the Potomac], Tunstall's Station, [Virginia], 21 May 1862, 4 pages 4to, on printed stationery
"I EXPECT TO FIGHT A DESPARATE BATTLE IN FRONT OF RICHMOND"
An exceptionally outspoken letter to his comrade Burnside, which reveals much about McClellan's distorated view of the military situation of the Army of the Potomac and his grandiose opinion of his own tactical abilities. "My dear Burn...It always does me good in the midst of my cares and perplexiities to see your wretched old scrawling. I have terrible troubles to contend with, but have met them with a good heart....Our progress has been slow -- but that is due to ignorance of the country...the maps are worthless, the resources small [in] number [McClellan always thought his army heavily outnumbered]....I feel very proud of Yorktown [the Confederates had made a tactical withdrawal from the town on May 4] -- it & Manassas will be my brightest chaplets in history -- for I know that I accomplished everything in both places by pure military skill....We came near being badly beaten in Williamsburg [4-5 May]. I arrived on the field...and found that all thought we were whipped & in for a disaster....How the men cheered & brightened up when they saw me. In five minutes after I reached the ground a possible defeat was changed into certain victory.....
"I expect to fight a desparate battle in front of Richmond & against superior numbers somewhat entrenched. The Gov[ernmen]t have deliberately placed me in this position. If I win the greater the glory, if I lose they will be damned forever both by God & man....My light troops have crossed the Chickahominy [River] at Bolton's Bridge this morning, 10 miles from Richmond. The crisis cannot long be deferred. I pray for God's blessing on our arms....When I see the hand of God guiding one so weak as myself, I can almost think myself a chosen instrument to carry out his schemes -- would that a better man had been selected! [Lincoln might have agreed with him]....If I thrash these rascals I will soon be in direct communication...."
Published (with a few text variants) in Stephen W. Sears, ed. The Civil War Papers of George B. MacClellan, New York, l989, pp.269-270.
"I EXPECT TO FIGHT A DESPARATE BATTLE IN FRONT OF RICHMOND"
An exceptionally outspoken letter to his comrade Burnside, which reveals much about McClellan's distorated view of the military situation of the Army of the Potomac and his grandiose opinion of his own tactical abilities. "My dear Burn...It always does me good in the midst of my cares and perplexiities to see your wretched old scrawling. I have terrible troubles to contend with, but have met them with a good heart....Our progress has been slow -- but that is due to ignorance of the country...the maps are worthless, the resources small [in] number [McClellan always thought his army heavily outnumbered]....I feel very proud of Yorktown [the Confederates had made a tactical withdrawal from the town on May 4] -- it & Manassas will be my brightest chaplets in history -- for I know that I accomplished everything in both places by pure military skill....We came near being badly beaten in Williamsburg [4-5 May]. I arrived on the field...and found that all thought we were whipped & in for a disaster....How the men cheered & brightened up when they saw me. In five minutes after I reached the ground a possible defeat was changed into certain victory.....
"I expect to fight a desparate battle in front of Richmond & against superior numbers somewhat entrenched. The Gov[ernmen]t have deliberately placed me in this position. If I win the greater the glory, if I lose they will be damned forever both by God & man....My light troops have crossed the Chickahominy [River] at Bolton's Bridge this morning, 10 miles from Richmond. The crisis cannot long be deferred. I pray for God's blessing on our arms....When I see the hand of God guiding one so weak as myself, I can almost think myself a chosen instrument to carry out his schemes -- would that a better man had been selected! [Lincoln might have agreed with him]....If I thrash these rascals I will soon be in direct communication...."
Published (with a few text variants) in Stephen W. Sears, ed. The Civil War Papers of George B. MacClellan, New York, l989, pp.269-270.