Hey everyone, thanks for tuning in to the 72nd episode of our Civil War podcast.

My name is Rich.

And I'm Tracy.

Hello y'all.

Welcome to the podcast.

This week as part of the background for Robert E. Lee's cheat mountain campaign, we

mentioned that in late July 1861, Major General George McClellan left Western Virginia and

made his way to Washington DC, where he was given command of the disorganized and demoralized

federal army that had just been given a good kicking by the Confederates at the first

battle of Manassas.

Since we already spent some time back in episode number 44 talking about McClellan's life

story, we won't cover that same ground again here.

But we will remind you that as far as McClellan's small scale victories out in Western Virginia,

which were the reason he was called up to the big leagues in July 1861.

Well, let's just say that in the north, the perception of those victories had less to

do with reality than with McClellan's willingness to chew his own horn.

Although he did orchestrate the movements that led to the Confederate debacle at the

Philippi races, he wasn't actually present on the field.

And then at Rich Mountain, where he was present, he lost his nerve and failed to support

Rose Crans.

Nevertheless, McClellan, in letters to his influential friends and in newspaper accounts, McClellan

made certain that he received the credit for the successes that federal arms had achieved

...