McClellan would have the opportunity to do what McDowell had not been able to do, which was build a real army. The aged Winfield Scott, at last accepting that his time had ended, submitted his resignation from the Army on November 3 and it was readily accepted--the War Department had long been trying to goad the old general into retiring voluntarily rather than firing him. Scott and McClellan stood together at a train station in Washington, waiting for the ride that would take the former off to retirement at West Point. McClellan wrote to his wife "Perhaps someday it may come to pass that I am an old, broken-down soldier standing at a railroad station as my young successor bids me farewell."
That day would be exactly one year away. For now, however, as commander of the nation's armies, McClellan had a lot to do. Aside from the three major areas of operation in Missouri-the Mississippi Valley, Kentucky, and Virginia, there were coastal operations and he was determined to not move out before everything was ready.
In Virginia, he had burdened himself unnecessarily with the addition of Allen Pinkerton as the army's chief of intelligence. The famous detective, while skilled at hunting down outlaws, bank robbers, and train bandits, was in over his head trying to handle military intelligence. He assured McClellan that the Confederate army at Bull Run numbered at least 90,000 men, all well-armed, well-drilled, and thirsting for Yankee blood. In truth, Johnson had only about 40,000 men, much worse-equipped, and with similar problems of trying to mold raw recruits into a functioning army, maybe even a little moreso given the individualistic nature of the average Confederate private.
That day would be exactly one year away. For now, however, as commander of the nation's armies, McClellan had a lot to do. Aside from the three major areas of operation in Missouri-the Mississippi Valley, Kentucky, and Virginia, there were coastal operations and he was determined to not move out before everything was ready.
In Virginia, he had burdened himself unnecessarily with the addition of Allen Pinkerton as the army's chief of intelligence. The famous detective, while skilled at hunting down outlaws, bank robbers, and train bandits, was in over his head trying to handle military intelligence. He assured McClellan that the Confederate army at Bull Run numbered at least 90,000 men, all well-armed, well-drilled, and thirsting for Yankee blood. In truth, Johnson had only about 40,000 men, much worse-equipped, and with similar problems of trying to mold raw recruits into a functioning army, maybe even a little moreso given the individualistic nature of the average Confederate private.
