 On March 11 , 1862 , Lincoln removed McClellan as general @-@ in @-@ chief , leaving him in command of only the Army of the Potomac , ostensibly so that McClellan would be free to devote all his attention to the move on Richmond . Lincoln 's order was ambiguous as to whether McClellan might be restored following a successful campaign . In fact , the general @-@ in @-@ chief position was left unfilled . Lincoln , Stanton , and a group of officers who formed the " War Board " directed the strategic actions of the Union armies that spring . Although McClellan was assuaged by supportive comments Lincoln made to him , in time he saw the change of command very differently , describing it as a part of an intrigue " to secure the failure of the approaching campaign . " 
