Question about the Peninsula Campaign (A. Civil War)

Art

Monthly Donor
If, George Brinton McClellan was given the actual figures of John Bankhead Magruder's forces on the Peninsula, and was given another 75,000 men, would he have attacked?
 

TFSmith121

Banned
If you give Little Mac an extra army,

If, George Brinton McClellan was given the actual figures of John Bankhead Magruder's forces on the Peninsula, and was given another 75,000 men, would he have attacked?

If you give Little Mac an extra army,

he'll probably insist on an extra cavalry corps to go with it.

If you give him an extra cavalry corps,

he'll probably say the horses are fatigued.

If you give him more remounts,

he'll probably say he needs a gunboat flotilla to convoy them down from Carlisle.

If you give him the gunboat flotilla,

he'll probably ask for an ironclad to go with them.

If you give him the ironclad,

he'll probably say he needs an extra 75,000 men to go with it...

Best,
 
If, George Brinton McClellan was given the actual figures of John Bankhead Magruder's forces on the Peninsula, and was given another 75,000 men, would he have attacked?

My understanding is that the size of confederate forces was understood, but GBM preferred misrepresentations as a reason for inaction - hence an extra 75000 men would do absolutely nothing - it seems at this distance that he lacked the moral courage to use his army and (best interpretation) kill or injure his men or (worst interpretation) open his reputation to a defeat.
 
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