 The immediate problem with McClellan's war strategy was that he was convinced the Confederates were ready to attack him with overwhelming numbers.On August 8, believing that the Confederacy had over 100,000 troops facing him (in contrast to the 35,000 they had actually deployed at Bull Run a few weeks earlier), he declared a state of emergency in the capital.By August 19, he estimated 150,000 rebel soldiers on his front.