Question

the passage below comes from a letter that general mcclellan wrote to lincoln’s secretary of war in 1862. use it to answer the question below.
i have lost this battle to capture richmond because my force was too small. i have seen too many dead and wounded comrades to feel otherwise than this government has not sustained this army. if you do not do so now the game is lost. if i save this army now, i tell you plainly that i owe no thanks to you or any other person in washington. you have done the best to sacrifice this army sustained: supported
which of the following conclusions is best supported by this passage?
mcclellan felt the lincoln administration had supported the army well.
mcclellan was confident that his army would capture richmond quickly.
mcclellan blamed the lincoln administration for the union army’s problems.
mcclellan was happy that the union army failed to capture richmond.

Explanation:

The passage states "I owe no thanks to you or any other person in Washington" and criticizes that the government "has not sustained this army", which directly shows McClellan blames the Lincoln Administration for the army's struggles. The other options contradict the text: he says the administration did NOT support the army, he admits the battle to capture Richmond was lost (so no confidence in quick capture), and he does not express happiness about the failure.

Answer:

McClellan blamed the Lincoln Administration for the Union army's problems.