The Yankee You Know
In 1862, Abraham Lincoln placed John Pope in command of the Union Army after the vain and boastful George McClellan disappointed him so slowly, but surely, on the Peninsula in Virginia. When Pope also failed at the Second Battle of Manassas, Lincoln felt forced to turn back to McClellan (who said he had been called upon again to save the country).
When this is described in Ken Burns's documentary The Civil War, Lincoln justifies his decision with the statement we must use the tools we have.
In class last week, one of the War and American Society students heard this and asked, 'Is Lincoln calling McClellan a tool?'
Lincoln did love a joke.
When this is described in Ken Burns's documentary The Civil War, Lincoln justifies his decision with the statement we must use the tools we have.
In class last week, one of the War and American Society students heard this and asked, 'Is Lincoln calling McClellan a tool?'
Lincoln did love a joke.