Although McClellan's subordinates can claim their share of responsibility for delays (such as Ambrose Burnside's misadventures at Burnside Bridge) and blunders (Edwin V. Sumner's attack without reconnaissance), these were localized problems from which the full army could have recovered.
Även om McClellans underlydande hade del i ansvaret för förseningarna (såsom Ambrose Burnsides olycksaliga händelser vid Burnside Bridge) och misstagen (Edwin V. Sumners anfall utan rekognoscering), var detta lokala problem som armén som helhet hade kunnat klara av.