Upset that his plans to engage the Confederates in Yorktown, Virginia were foiled, McClellan dispatches some 41,000 soldiers to chase the retreating Rebels. The two sides clash today in Williamsburg in an inconclusive battle that results in about 4,000 total casualties. At the end of the day, the Rebels, having bought enough time for the…
U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, growing impatient with Gen. George McClellan, commander of the Army of the Potomac, orders the general to launch offensive operations no later than February 22. Thus far, McClellan has exercised too much caution, in the estimation of Lincoln and many northerners. Meanwhile, on New York’s East River, the Union ironclad Monitor…
Union General George McClellan’s Special Order No. 7 has now been in effect for one week. The order reads: The Major-General Commanding desires and requests that in future there may be a more perfect respect for the Sabbath on the part of his command. We are fighting in a holy cause, and should endeavor to…