No doubt Grant if command at this point would have pushed forward perhaps regardless of Pinkertons Confederate overestimates. The question would be of how many men he would lose in this commitment. He was rather good as long as he had overwhelming numbers to sacrifice. In any event George B. was rather overcautious....more concerned in not losing a battle rather than winning one.
@@ptauagpt McLellan had about 50,000 men (opposed by only 11,000 Confederates) at the start of the Peninsula campaign - Grant would probably have attacked and smashed through them and gone on to capture Richmond. Yes, he would have taken a lot more casualties than Little Mac did, but in ending the war he'd have saved many more lives in the long run, while being cautious only brought more death and destruction. (But obviously, it's easy to be wise after the event)
been watching this series and McClellan is starting to annoy me lol, so many dam blunders because of him. sure im looking on the outside knowing everything, but they LITERALLY had a successful recon into the earth works and he still denies his troops.
@@ptauagptwell to be fair to McClellan, Grant would not have thought up the brilliant peninsula campaign. But yes he would’ve fought it way better and actually used his numbers to push right up and through Richmond while the Confederates were still wildly dispersed and separated. Richmond would’ve been taken and the Confederates would’ve continued to fight from… Atlanta or somewhere.
I visited Williamsburg, Yorktown, etc a few years ago it was all about the revolutionary War with the guides, seen several headstones that read, "5 Union Soldiers", in the Yorktown cemetery, was so curious, thanks for telling the story.
There are immaculate rebel works still visible on the west side of Warwick River (now a reservoir) in Newport News city park. It's fascinating to walk amongst them. Great video. I also can't wait for Malvern Hill. I was up there a few weeks ago. Fascinating site. Thanks.
Malvern battle further exemplifies that an army in retreat during the civil war could still inflict overwhelming casualties upon the attacking forces. Of course at malvern hill the Unions success at defense as well as the inflicting of large Confederate casualties was in part due to McCllelends personnal insruction of placement of the defending artillary as he was inherently an artillary general.
@@model-man7802 There is still one redoubt/earthwork/trenches preserved at Lee’s Mill within the apartment complex. Unfortunately developers destroyed the other 2 main fortifications. The line that remains is where Keyes Union 4th corps was turned around following receiving a “sheet of fire” from dug in confederates. The site was preserved in 1999 from what I heard and glad it was.
It is amazing how spectacularly McClellan botched this campaign. If he has simply used his numbers to his advantage, he could've saved the Union years of slaughter. Yes, it's Monday Morning Quarterbacking/Arm Chair Generaling to say so, but it was something also known at the time. It's just amazing it took the Union so long to find a competent commander for the East. It's just too bad the Grant/Sherman combo couldn't have moved east earlier; though if they did the West probably wouldn't have been successful.
Obviously Pinkertons usual overestimate of Confederate troop strength further reinforced Mccllelends over caution . To be fair though George B. Mcclleland had the responsibility of guarding Washington D.C. as well as to attack Richmond. The boy General furthermore never really had full control all the time over his elder generals.
Thank the Gods for Grant ! Grant paid attention to his own battlefield mathematics while McClellan frightened himself with the largest numbers that were reported to him or he heard about. He had no confidence in his troops or himself in reality, which is why he always wanted more and more troops. He should have never been given command, or he should have been removed from it after failing to follow Lincoln's orders the very first time. I think a lot of men died unnecessarily because of his incompetence.
By the time grant had command he outnumbered the enemy so vastly that it was only a war of attrition. It helps when you can use fresh off the boat immigrants as cannon fodder . Grant was not a military genius by any stretch of the imagination. He was saved by reinforcements at Shiloh , was on a drinking binge at Vicksburg was constantly outmaneuvered by Lee and took 55k casualties earning him the nickname of the butcher (of his own men) look at cold harbor . That is one of the worst military decisions ever made and being it was frontal assault with no positive objective it is far worse than even pickets charge which was a combination of things going wrong . . Meade , Winfield Scott, and Winfield Scott Hancock were all better generals and in each of their primes could have served grants position far more effectively. He is the unions version of late war John Bell Hood , whom given the same number of men and supply would have been equally “successful” though would have mercilessly thrown his men into meat grinder after meat grinder until enough flesh had clogged the Cogs allowing the survivors to prevail and “victory” . I am not making an argument with any partiality to either side . I’m simply stating LEE was superior in tactics and military skill to grant as were countless other union and confederate generals. Joseph E Johnston , Albert Sidney Johnston , George Meade , Winfield Scott Hancock , WT Sherman , stonewall Jackson , even Longstreet . He was also a horrible president.
@@ae1586 The only bad thing about Grant's administration was the amount of corruption, Grant singlehandedly destroyed the Klan, among other civil right laws. So no, he wasn't a bad president.
Politics played a role into why McClellan was given and kept command. The thing that sticks out about McClellan is how he tries to mimic Napoleon. He does that stupid hand in coat pose and attempts brilliant maneuvers that can't work with his army's level of training and coordination. Another thing that hurts him is his reluctance to take risks. If he ordered his men forward rather than prepare a siege he could have potentially ended the war with this campaign.
@@gobblox38 The hand in coat isn’t necessarily trying to mimic napoleon. It was a common thing that everybody did long before and after napoleon. It’s just that depictions of napoleon are far more famous than depictions of any other people in history who also did the same
Hi, WH, I really enjoyed this video about the Battle of Williamsburg. My g-grandfather was in the 5th NC and fought in all its battles up to his capture at Cedar Creek in 1864. I also do history videos and hope in summer of 2022 to do a video of the 5th NC combat record filming at the actual battlefield locations using my g-grandfather’s 3g-grandsons in the recording.
Thanks for delving into one of the parts of the war that gets very little attention, very well produced for the most part. My great-great-grandfather, of the 16th GA, was KIA at the Battle of Dam No. 1. Another name for that engagement, used mostly on the Union side, is Burnt Chimney. Yes, it was called Lee's Mill also but the mill was actually a bit downstream from Dam No. 1. Due to how the river makes a large bend, the two places were actually pretty close to each other across a neck of land. So pretty much in the same vicinity, just at different points along the river. As i understand it, tho, Lee's Mill is the weak point that saw a bit of fighting that almost made the siege unnecessary, even if that was just in McClellan's mind. Edit to add: I'm also very thankful for your map of Dam No. 1. Looks very well done and is accurate as far as I can remember.
I used to live in Deep Creek and Virginia Beach it's a nice area Hampton roads some call it todewater. I always thought most of the battles were further west or north I didn't know just how many were right there where I've lived my whole life.
McClellan never had any business running an actual military campaign. Maybe could've been ok as a lower level commander only concernes with the smaller picture but not in a position that required a sense of u4gency and getting the big picture, the guy was way too much of a politically minded person t
@@seanbryan4833 He was a skilled general in the wrong war. McClellan would be the commander that the Entente needed at the start of WW1. A general cautious with casualties than a common believer of the "cult of the offensive." He would unironically be the general to make the enemy bleed white the fastest.
He was outnumbered slightly and for real during the Seven Days. And his comments on Lee are ironic in retrospect, but it makes sense if you remember Mac fought Lee in West Virginia in 1861 where he did act in such a manner.
Hey Warhawk. You mentioned something about the old British defenses being used during the civil war battle. Can you elaborate on what all was still leftover from the Brits in regards to equipment/ supplies/ guns etc. Were these old earthworks pretty much abandoned for over 80 years until 1862 or did they get used for something else?
The confederates used portions of the British earthworks that were constructed during the revolutionary siege. Possibly random things were left around but I am unsure besides the physical works themselves.
HEY, who cut your hair man? I'm only funnin', for l'm damn near 60 year old. I know all the Cheech & Chong records and at least the three first movies. Being from Texas, l click right into Cheech throwing in his Espanol.
This is the 1st battle my ancesters were in with the 105th wildcat division out of clarion county pa. There was 6 that entered in that regiment. 3 at Gettysburg and 1 made it through the whole war. 1 was killed at Williamsburg. 3 were released on surgeon certificates.. And one was shot through the hips and captured at Chancellersville and spent time in libby was tranferred to a hospital in Alexandria and was deemed unfit for service after he petitioned to go back to his regiment.
Imagine how much quicker this war would have ended if the North had some decent leadership in charge of the army at the start of the war. It seems like any leaders with any sense were in positions where they couldn't do much and the biggest idiots kept getting promoted. Edit: And at least during my time in the army, it doesn't seem like much has changed since 1861.
The man Winfield Scott tapped for the job would have been perfect . However he was not going to invade his own state and subjugate his own family to conquer lands that his father had helped liberate with his own sword . States rights were a real thing back then .
Eh the Union was pretty close to winning early with this campaign. After this campaign fails though, yes, the East was pretty embarrassing until Grant showed up.
Hey McClellan ! To reach the level of the "Grande Armée" you are "only" missing 400.000 soldiers ! loool and between us, Napoleon was a little bit more offensive than you. You'll tell me it's not difficult!
@@WarhawkYT Not to be a nit-picker, but at the 3:18 minute mark of this video the narrator made the mistake of claiming Winchester,Virginia is in the upper Shenandoah Valley. That River flows generally South to North into the Potomac River. General T.J"Stonewall" Jackson would not be pleased by this "boo-boo". For he, like Nathan B. Forrest could look at a piece of ground, and use it to their full advantage. That is why Gen. Jackson had Jediadiah Hodgekiss on staff for map making chores. I could have spelt the topographic engineer"s name wrong. But you get my gist, don't you ? DEO VINDICE
Erasmus Keyes' last name is pronounced Kighs, like how you would say High with a K though. He's my ancestor and this name gets mispronounced so much. Just wanted to point it out. Great and informative video though. Keep up the good work ☺️
The south never sought to control the central government in Washington . They sought to be left alone and exit a union they entered into voluntarily. This was a war of aggression and conquest by the north who could not afford to lose 70% of its nominal tax base . It could not afford to have the south trading directly with Great Britain and not paying the 50% tariff . How else would the north be able to be Industrialized? They needed the south to need their wares and goods . they depended on the tariffs to fund their government and industrialization. This war was not fought to end nor to keep slavery . The southern constitution outlawed the slave trade while seeking a way to emancipate some 40% of its population in a humane way ,while the north did not end slavery in practice in their slave states until the war was over.
The first year-year and a half for any army just formed for general engagements is nasty. Everyone is still learning to soldier and fight as a unit. Almost all initial meeting battles are gory and confused.
🎶 Away down South in the land of traitors, rattlesnakes and alligators 🎶 Right away! Come away! Right away! Right away, come away! 🎶 Where cotton’s king and men are chattels Union boys will win the battles . . .
So basically you produce some videos. Then you go back and remaster them. Then you finally produce some content but 2 vids later you upload a combination of those 2? You've barely published any fucking content yet feel you can just copy paste your old shit for....what? The algorithm, another $5 in ad revenue? Fuck this. I'm out, this is just a low quality grift.
Lincoln: Please Advance.
McClellan: *Takes a single step forward* Well I've done all I can do.😐
No doubt Grant if command at this point would have pushed forward perhaps regardless of Pinkertons Confederate overestimates. The question would be of how many men he would lose in this commitment. He was rather good as long as he had overwhelming numbers to sacrifice. In any event George B. was rather overcautious....more concerned in not losing a battle rather than winning one.
@@ptauagpt McLellan had about 50,000 men (opposed by only 11,000 Confederates) at the start of the Peninsula campaign - Grant would probably have attacked and smashed through them and gone on to capture Richmond. Yes, he would have taken a lot more casualties than Little Mac did, but in ending the war he'd have saved many more lives in the long run, while being cautious only brought more death and destruction.
(But obviously, it's easy to be wise after the event)
been watching this series and McClellan is starting to annoy me lol, so many dam blunders because of him. sure im looking on the outside knowing everything, but they LITERALLY had a successful recon into the earth works and he still denies his troops.
There is nothing more we can do 😉
@@ptauagptwell to be fair to McClellan, Grant would not have thought up the brilliant peninsula campaign. But yes he would’ve fought it way better and actually used his numbers to push right up and through Richmond while the Confederates were still wildly dispersed and separated. Richmond would’ve been taken and the Confederates would’ve continued to fight from… Atlanta or somewhere.
I visited Williamsburg, Yorktown, etc a few years ago it was all about the revolutionary War with the guides, seen several headstones that read, "5 Union Soldiers", in the Yorktown cemetery, was so curious, thanks for telling the story.
There are immaculate rebel works still visible on the west side of Warwick River (now a reservoir) in Newport News city park. It's fascinating to walk amongst them. Great video. I also can't wait for Malvern Hill. I was up there a few weeks ago. Fascinating site. Thanks.
My partner and researcher for warhawk was there a few weeks ago as well, its always interesting to see old fortifications
At Lee Mill there were still huge Redoubts up till the early 90s when the housing went up.
Malvern battle further exemplifies that an army in retreat during the civil war could still inflict overwhelming casualties upon the attacking forces. Of course at malvern hill the Unions success at defense as well as the inflicting of large Confederate casualties was in part due to McCllelends personnal insruction of placement of the defending artillary as he was inherently an artillary general.
@@model-man7802 There is still one redoubt/earthwork/trenches preserved at Lee’s Mill within the apartment complex. Unfortunately developers destroyed the other 2 main fortifications. The line that remains is where Keyes Union 4th corps was turned around following receiving a “sheet of fire” from dug in confederates. The site was preserved in 1999 from what I heard and glad it was.
@@danieljanousek9360 Gotta be the same one I remember from 1990 when we did a living history there.Great big thing next to a swamp.
Good work Warhawk! Thanks for putting in the work to share our history as Americans together.
Maclellan didn't lose, he merely failed to WIN!
He successfully retreated
Funny, even after the entire southern force gathered they had less men than McClellan thought they had on the first day.
It is amazing how spectacularly McClellan botched this campaign. If he has simply used his numbers to his advantage, he could've saved the Union years of slaughter. Yes, it's Monday Morning Quarterbacking/Arm Chair Generaling to say so, but it was something also known at the time. It's just amazing it took the Union so long to find a competent commander for the East. It's just too bad the Grant/Sherman combo couldn't have moved east earlier; though if they did the West probably wouldn't have been successful.
Obviously Pinkertons usual overestimate of Confederate troop strength further reinforced Mccllelends over caution . To be fair though George B. Mcclleland had the responsibility of guarding Washington D.C. as well as to attack Richmond. The boy General furthermore never really had full control all the time over his elder generals.
No one but McClellan
Thank the Gods for Grant ! Grant paid attention to his own battlefield mathematics while McClellan frightened himself with the largest numbers that were reported to him or he heard about. He had no confidence in his troops or himself in reality, which is why he always wanted more and more troops. He should have never been given command, or he should have been removed from it after failing to follow Lincoln's orders the very first time. I think a lot of men died unnecessarily because of his incompetence.
By the time grant had command he outnumbered the enemy so vastly that it was only a war of attrition. It helps when you can use fresh off the boat immigrants as cannon fodder . Grant was not a military genius by any stretch of the imagination. He was saved by reinforcements at Shiloh , was on a drinking binge at Vicksburg was constantly outmaneuvered by Lee and took 55k casualties earning him the nickname of the butcher (of his own men) look at cold harbor . That is one of the worst military decisions ever made and being it was frontal assault with no positive objective it is far worse than even pickets charge which was a combination of things going wrong . . Meade , Winfield Scott, and Winfield Scott Hancock were all better generals and in each of their primes could have served grants position far more effectively. He is the unions version of late war John Bell Hood , whom given the same number of men and supply would have been equally “successful” though would have mercilessly thrown his men into meat grinder after meat grinder until enough flesh had clogged the Cogs allowing the survivors to prevail and “victory” . I am not making an argument with any partiality to either side . I’m simply stating LEE was superior in tactics and military skill to grant as were countless other union and confederate generals. Joseph E Johnston , Albert Sidney Johnston , George Meade , Winfield Scott Hancock , WT Sherman , stonewall Jackson , even Longstreet . He was also a horrible president.
@@ae1586 The only bad thing about Grant's administration was the amount of corruption, Grant singlehandedly destroyed the Klan, among other civil right laws. So no, he wasn't a bad president.
Politics played a role into why McClellan was given and kept command.
The thing that sticks out about McClellan is how he tries to mimic Napoleon. He does that stupid hand in coat pose and attempts brilliant maneuvers that can't work with his army's level of training and coordination.
Another thing that hurts him is his reluctance to take risks. If he ordered his men forward rather than prepare a siege he could have potentially ended the war with this campaign.
@@gobblox38 Finally, someone understands.
@@gobblox38 The hand in coat isn’t necessarily trying to mimic napoleon. It was a common thing that everybody did long before and after napoleon. It’s just that depictions of napoleon are far more famous than depictions of any other people in history who also did the same
I just visited Gaines Mill and Malvern Hill, can’t wait to hear you cover it later in the series, great video
We'll be there soon enough :)
Hi, WH, I really enjoyed this video about the Battle of Williamsburg. My g-grandfather was in the 5th NC and fought in all its battles up to his capture at Cedar Creek in 1864. I also do history videos and hope in summer of 2022 to do a video of the 5th NC combat record filming at the actual battlefield locations using my g-grandfather’s 3g-grandsons in the recording.
Glad to hear that Wyoming!
These are really damned good documentaries.
thanks Eric, glad to hear that!
Very good job. As a Civil War nerd myself, the more videos and information the better. Keep it up. Love the details and consistency.
This is a great video man I’m loving this your good at making battle maps and history behind them
I lived in a house which faced the Warwick River in Newport News, VA, and Ft. Eustis still had the earthworks marked.
Thanks for delving into one of the parts of the war that gets very little attention, very well produced for the most part. My great-great-grandfather, of the 16th GA, was KIA at the Battle of Dam No. 1. Another name for that engagement, used mostly on the Union side, is Burnt Chimney. Yes, it was called Lee's Mill also but the mill was actually a bit downstream from Dam No. 1. Due to how the river makes a large bend, the two places were actually pretty close to each other across a neck of land. So pretty much in the same vicinity, just at different points along the river. As i understand it, tho, Lee's Mill is the weak point that saw a bit of fighting that almost made the siege unnecessary, even if that was just in McClellan's mind.
Edit to add: I'm also very thankful for your map of Dam No. 1. Looks very well done and is accurate as far as I can remember.
I used to live in Deep Creek and Virginia Beach it's a nice area Hampton roads some call it todewater. I always thought most of the battles were further west or north I didn't know just how many were right there where I've lived my whole life.
Did McClellan ever fight a battle where he wasn't "outnumbered"?
The irony of him calling Lee "timid and irresolute in action" is mind boggling.
McClellan never had any business running an actual military campaign. Maybe could've been ok as a lower level commander only concernes with the smaller picture but not in a position that required a sense of u4gency and getting the big picture, the guy was way too much of a politically minded person t
@@sisilotau2185 He was really good at building an army, but not so much in taking that army into situations where it could get hurt.
@@sisilotau2185backwards. He was great big picture wise with strategy. His failure was on the more intimate scale: actually fighting imo.
@@seanbryan4833 He was a skilled general in the wrong war. McClellan would be the commander that the Entente needed at the start of WW1. A general cautious with casualties than a common believer of the "cult of the offensive." He would unironically be the general to make the enemy bleed white the fastest.
He was outnumbered slightly and for real during the Seven Days.
And his comments on Lee are ironic in retrospect, but it makes sense if you remember Mac fought Lee in West Virginia in 1861 where he did act in such a manner.
Excellently produced and narrated.
Great video, well done!
Hey Warhawk.
You mentioned something about the old British defenses being used during the civil war battle.
Can you elaborate on what all was still leftover from the Brits in regards to equipment/ supplies/ guns etc.
Were these old earthworks pretty much abandoned for over 80 years until 1862 or did they get used for something else?
The confederates used portions of the British earthworks that were constructed during the revolutionary siege. Possibly random things were left around but I am unsure besides the physical works themselves.
HEY, who cut your hair man?
I'm only funnin', for l'm damn near 60 year old. I know all the Cheech & Chong records and at least the three first movies.
Being from Texas, l click right into Cheech throwing in his Espanol.
This is the 1st battle my ancesters were in with the 105th wildcat division out of clarion county pa. There was 6 that entered in that regiment. 3 at Gettysburg and 1 made it through the whole war. 1 was killed at Williamsburg. 3 were released on surgeon certificates.. And one was shot through the hips and captured at Chancellersville and spent time in libby was tranferred to a hospital in Alexandria and was deemed unfit for service after he petitioned to go back to his regiment.
I'm new to your channel, however I am impressed by your work, I love history
38:37 A Coffee Mill Gun, A Yankee Invention, "An Army in six feet square."
44:00 was McClellan talking about Lee or himself.
God Bless General 'Mother' McClellan! A real soldiers care-taker! ;)
/under-taker. ;-)
This further reinforces my absolute disdain for McClellan
Imagine how much quicker this war would have ended if the North had some decent leadership in charge of the army at the start of the war. It seems like any leaders with any sense were in positions where they couldn't do much and the biggest idiots kept getting promoted.
Edit: And at least during my time in the army, it doesn't seem like much has changed since 1861.
The man Winfield Scott tapped for the job would have been perfect . However he was not going to invade his own state and subjugate his own family to conquer lands that his father had helped liberate with his own sword . States rights were a real thing back then .
Eh the Union was pretty close to winning early with this campaign. After this campaign fails though, yes, the East was pretty embarrassing until Grant showed up.
We Magruders are quite theatrical
you right
Hey McClellan ! To reach the level of the "Grande Armée" you are "only" missing 400.000 soldiers ! loool and between us, Napoleon was a little bit more offensive than you. You'll tell me it's not difficult!
Great Video
You're snooping in the right places lol
@@WarhawkYT Not to be a nit-picker, but at the 3:18 minute mark of this video the narrator made the mistake of claiming Winchester,Virginia is in the upper Shenandoah Valley. That River flows generally South to North into the Potomac River.
General T.J"Stonewall" Jackson would not be pleased by this "boo-boo". For he, like Nathan B. Forrest could look at a piece of ground, and use it to their full advantage.
That is why Gen. Jackson had Jediadiah Hodgekiss on staff for map making chores. I could have spelt the topographic engineer"s name wrong. But you get my gist, don't you ?
DEO VINDICE
You pronounced Poquoson pretty good. Are you from Virginia?. I love your videos.
Erasmus Keyes' last name is pronounced Kighs, like how you would say High with a K though. He's my ancestor and this name gets mispronounced so much. Just wanted to point it out. Great and informative video though. Keep up the good work ☺️
Would you be open to making content like this on the American Revolution?
You know, it’s funny you just asked this as we are in the preliminary stages of planning our revolution coverage
>By a Confederate wind
This proves nature was on the CSA's side
Awesome! Do More
will do!
Hey keep this up! And please never be afraid to tell the truth, because civil wars are always nasty affairs
Thanks Timothy!
The south never sought to control the central government in Washington . They sought to be left alone and exit a union they entered into voluntarily. This was a war of aggression and conquest by the north who could not afford to lose 70% of its nominal tax base . It could not afford to have the south trading directly with Great Britain and not paying the 50% tariff . How else would the north be able to be Industrialized? They needed the south to need their wares and goods . they depended on the tariffs to fund their government and industrialization. This war was not fought to end nor to keep slavery . The southern constitution outlawed the slave trade while seeking a way to emancipate some 40% of its population in a humane way ,while the north did not end slavery in practice in their slave states until the war was over.
This channel deserves more subs.
McClellan and Johnston the two greatest minds, I can’t even pretend oh the early war is so weird
McClellan has his strong points. Combat just wasn't one of them...
weird but interesting at the same time.
@@Philbert-s2c TBH, his successors Burnside and Hooker weren't much better either.
The first year-year and a half for any army just formed for general engagements is nasty. Everyone is still learning to soldier and fight as a unit. Almost all initial meeting battles are gory and confused.
Should have had dallas be their capital probably would still be
Sharing this to the original civil war buff.
🎶 Away down South in the land of traitors, rattlesnakes and alligators
🎶 Right away! Come away! Right away! Right away, come away!
🎶 Where cotton’s king and men are chattels Union boys will win the battles . . .
Right Away Right Away Right Away
Well all go down in dixie hurrary Hurray
Every time he pronounces Norfolk incorrectly take a shot.
@@sertank735 I’d be drunk
Sorry, I just can't stand all the mispronounced words and names.
Nobody cares.
@@zico739 Well at least one person does, and in actuality, a fair number more.
The way McClellan fought always made me wonder if he was Italian.
So basically you produce some videos. Then you go back and remaster them. Then you finally produce some content but 2 vids later you upload a combination of those 2? You've barely published any fucking content yet feel you can just copy paste your old shit for....what? The algorithm, another $5 in ad revenue?
Fuck this. I'm out, this is just a low quality grift.
Wow bruh, just….wow
Better than anything you could do