George B McClellan
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AGeorge McClellan was a native of Philadelphia and attended the University of Pennsylvania. In 1846 he graduated second in his class from West Point. McClellan served with distinction under Winfield Scott in the Mexican War. From 1848 to 1851 he taught military engineering at West Point. Following that assignment, he spent several years surveying routes for railroads, most significantly the path of the Northern Pacific across the Cascades.
In 1855-56, McClellan was on assignment in the Crimea to study European warfare and submitted an exhaustive report on the siege of Sebastopol. At this time, he also designed the “McClellan saddle” by modifying European models; this saddle remained in use by American forces until the cavalry was disbanded.
McClellan resigned from the service in 1857 and became the head of engineering for the Illinois Central Railroad, an organization represented by attorney Abraham Lincoln. In 1860, McClellan was appointed president of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad.
Following the outbreak of hostilities in 1861, McClellan reentered the service and was given command of federal forces in western Virginia. He was successful in defeating Confederate forces in a number of minor engagements, but received enough recognition to become known as the “Young Napoleon.” The nickname was partially inspired by his military successes, but also by his imperious manner of dealing with people.
Following the First Battle of Bull Run, McClellan was given command of the eastern federal forces, soldiers that would become the Army of the Potomac. His assignment was to protect the nations capital from Confederate attack and destroy the opposition forces in northern Virginia. McClellans efforts transformed the army, restoring discipline and morale. He failed, however, to engage the enemy, pleading instead for more soldiers, time and supplies. Lincoln grew tired of the delays and issued an order for the army to advance. McClellan balked and was able to convince the President that further delay was necessary.
In the spring of 1862, McClellan finally launched the “Peninsular Campaign,” an effort to take the Confederate capital of Richmond by advancing up the peninsula between the York and James rivers. McClellans forces won more battles than they lost, but were forced to retreat after the Seven Days Battles. The objectives of taking Richmond and destroying the northern Confederate army were not achieved. Lincoln was displeased; McClellan responded by publicly criticizing the president and the War Department. The press, which had been clamoring for action, branded the general as “Mac the Unready.”
Following the Second Battle of Bull Run, McClellan commanded Union forces protecting Washington. He repeated his success with whipping the soldiers into fighting shape and was able to stop the army of Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Antietam. However, McClellan failed to take the initiative and pursue Lees forces. Lincoln was again dismayed and in November 1862 removed the general from his command.
McClellan waited for another military appointment, but none was forthcoming. Meanwhile, he emerged as a political figure. His sympathies lay with the states rights positions of the Democrats, but he was dedicated fully to preserving the Union. In 1864 McClellan received the partys nomination and, early on, appeared to be in excellent position to defeat Lincoln in the Election of 1864. Improving reports from the front, however, enabled Lincoln to win handily in the fall. McClellan resigned from the army and took his family on an extended tour of Europe.
McClellan returned to the United States in 1868 and was later appointed chief engineer of the New York Department of Docks. In 1872 he was named the president of the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad. Remaining active in politics, McClellan was elected governor of New Jersey in 1877. His final years were devoted to traveling and writing. He justified his military career in McClellans Own Story (1877).
George B. McClellan was a truly brilliant military engineer and superior administrator. His lack of battlefield initiative, however, demonstrated a great weakness in the educational program of West Point where the emphasis was on training technicians, not warriors. It should be noted, however, that McClellans reluctance had some political roots; as a Democratic presidential hopeful he had no interest in crushing the South, only in defeating the forces of disunion.
The American soldier George B. McClellan was born in Philadelphia on the 3rd of December 1826. After passing two years (1840-42) in the university of Pennsylvania, he entered the United States military academy, from which he graduated with high honors in July 1846. Sent as a lieutenant of engineers to the Mexican War, he took part in the battles under General Winfield Scott, and by his gallantry won the brevets of first-lieutenant at Contreras-Churubusco and captain at Chapultepec; he was afterwards detailed as assistant-instructor at West Point, and employed in explorations in the Southwest and in Oregon. Promoted in 1855 captain of cavalry, he served on a military commission sent to Europe to study European armies and especially the war in the Crimea. In 1856 he designed a saddle, which was afterwards well known as the McClellan. Resigning his commission in 1857, McClellan became successively chief engineer and vice-president of the Illinois Central railroad (1857-60), general superintendent of the Mississippi & Ohio railroad, and, a little later, president of the eastern branch of the same, with his residence in Cincinnati. When the Civil War broke out he was, in April 1861, made major-general of three months militia by the Governor of Ohio; but General Scotts favor at Washington promoted him rapidly (May 14) to the rank of major-general, U.S.A., in command of the department of the Ohio. Pursuant to orders, on the 26th of May, McClellan sent a small force across the Ohio river to Philippi, dispersed the Confederates there early in June, and immensely aided the Union cause in that region by rapid and brilliant military successes, gained in the short space of eight days. These operations, though comparatively trivial as the Civil War developed, brought great results, in permanently dividing old Virginia by the creation of the state of West Virginia, and in presenting the first sharp, short and wholly successful campaign of the war.
Soon after the first Bull Run disaster he was summoned to Washington, and the Union hailed him as chieftain and preserver. Only thirty-four years old, and with military fame and promotion premature and quite in excess of positive experience, he reached the capital late in July and assumed command there. At first all was deference and