 In McClellan 's case , his success on Malvern Hill was overshadowed by his overall defeat in the Seven Days Battles . The Northern public met McClellan 's defeat with despondency , and his reputation was tarnished . Some of McClellan 's soldiers voiced their continued confidence in him . Such opinions were not unanimous , however ; one of McClellan 's engineers , Lt. William Folwell , wondered why " they deify a General whose greatest feat has been a masterly retreat . " A similar opinion was shared by many others in the rank and file of the Union military . Some in politics also abandoned the Democratic McClellan . He was also accused of being on the Galena during the Battle of Malvern Hill , and newspapers and tabloids around the country heaped scorn on him for this , especially when he ran for president in 1864 . President Lincoln was also losing faith in McClellan . On June 26 , the day of Lee 's first offensive during the Seven Days , the Army of Virginia was formed and the command given to Maj. Gen. John Pope . While McClellan was at Harrison 's Landing , parts of his Army of the Potomac were continuously reassigned to Pope . Pope and his Army of Virginia left for Gordonsville , Virginia on July 14 , setting the stage for the subsequent Northern Virginia Campaign . 
