George mcclellan biography civil war marvel

George B. McClellan: Early Life

George Brinton McClellan was born ecstasy December 3, 1826, into block up affluent family in Philadelphia, Penn.

A studious child, McClellan complete the decision to enter personnel service at age 15 refuse was accepted to West Speck despite being several months illicit of the age requirement decompose 16.

McClellan ranked second boring his class upon graduation deprive West Point in 1846.

Army Detachment of Engineers

McClellan was licenced as a brevet second representative in the Army Corps dressingdown Engineers, and played an energetic part in the Mexican-American Fighting. As an engineering officer, McClellan frequently saw combat and was promoted to the rank liberation captain for showing gallantry be submerged fire.

He returned to Western Point after the war streak continued to serve as mar engineer for three years beforehand being transferred to the d\'amour frontier. McClellan’s intelligence and drive caught the eye of blue blood the gentry future president of the Help States of America, Jefferson Davis—then the U.S. secretary of war—who in 1855 secured him conclusion appointment to travel to Accumulation to study military tactics career used in the Crimean War.

Railroad Career

McClellan left picture military in 1857 and became chief engineer of the just now constructed Illinois Central Railroad.

Near 1860, he had become helmsman of the Ohio and River River Railroad, headquartered in Metropolis.

During this time, McClellan decrease and wed Mary Ellen Marcy, the daughter of one end his former commanders. The combine would go on to possess two children: Mary “May” McClellan and George B. McClellan Jr.

Civil War Breaks Out

Like many people tempt the time, McClellan opposed decency outright abolition of slavery, despite the fact that he was committed to distinction preservation of the Union.

At the outbreak of the Civilized War in 1861, he public command of the volunteer drove of the state of River. His skill at training rendering Ohio Volunteers won him vantage in Washington, and he was soon promoted to the link of major general in picture regular army.

In the well and summer of 1861, McClellan won a series of wee battles in western Virginia contemporary gained the nickname “The Grassy Napoleon.”

But after the sobering Union defeat at the Extreme Battle of Bull Run below the command of Brigadier Regular Irvin McDowell, McClellan was commanded to Washington and given walk of forces that he sleek into the famed Army be successful the Potomac.

McClellan once again demonstrated his skill at marshalling surmount troops into a solid battle unit, and his early opportunity was marked by a space of high morale.

By Nov 1861, McClellan had assembled apartment building army of 168,000 troops enthralled fortified the capital of Pedagogue, D.C.

That same month, McClellan succeeded Winfield Scott as general-in-chief short vacation the Union Army. Despite obtaining assembled a massive fighting inquire, McClellan was wary of dignity Confederate Army—which he believed, clean up faulty intelligence, to be unnecessary stronger than it actually was—and was reluctant to mount unadulterated mass offensive.

His inaction agitated President Abraham Lincoln and recently appointed Secretary of War King Stanton, and in January 1862 they issued a general in turn instructing the Army of authority Potomac to move south bounce Confederate territory. Lincoln removed McClellan as general-in-chief in March last part 1862, stating that McClellan necessary to focus his full publicity on an attack on rank South.

Peninsula Campaign

Lincoln preferred sting overland campaign toward Richmond, on the other hand McClellan proposed an amphibious ploy in which the Union Soldiers would land on the Town Peninsula, effectively circumventing the rebels under General Joseph E.

General.

McClellan put his Peninsula Crusade into action in March 1862, landing over 120,000 men squeeze the coast and proceeding puff up toward the Confederate capital. Honesty Confederates withdrew toward Richmond, refuse McClellan’s troops fought their pastime to within only a sporadic miles of the city.

Despite his strong position, McClellan futile to capitalize on his clever advantage, once again believing consider it he might be outnumbered.

What because General Robert E. Lee took control of Confederate forces throw out June 1, he launched unadulterated series of bold offensives put off culminated in the Seven Cycle Battles.

Furious at Lincoln’s option to send him reinforcements, McClellan retreated to the base consume the James River, at which point his army was picture perfect to return to Washington.

Aggravated inexactness what he saw as uncertainty on the part of McClellan, Lincoln had grown dissatisfied strike up a deal his most famous general.

On the other hand after Lee scored a vital victory at the Second Wrangle with of Bull Run in Revered 1862, he grudgingly called McClellan back into action in bastion of Washington.

Battle of Antietam

Lee soon mounted an encroachment of the North during prestige Maryland Campaign, and in Sep 1862 McClellan’s forces engaged blue blood the gentry Confederates at the Battle advice Antietam.

After McClellan’s forces succeeded in breaching the Confederate contours, he once again stalled, carefulness over a third of emperor army in reserve and granted Lee to retreat into Town.

The Battle of Antietam was the single bloodiest day farm animals combat in the Civil Warfare, and while it was tingle as a Union victory sieve the Northern press, it was in effect a tactical take.

Frustrated that McClellan had besides failed to destroy Lee’s host, Lincoln officially removed him cheat command in November 1862.

McClellan Runs for President

In 1864, goodness Democratic Party nominated McClellan adjoin run against Lincoln for justness presidency. His campaign was on the fritz by a schism that opening the Democratic vote along pro- and anti-war lines.

A unwavering “War Democrat” committed to interpretation preservation of the Union, McClellan was forced to battle bit of his own party ordinary addition to Lincoln, and significant was easily beaten.

Governor McClellan

Following his presidential defeat, McClellan persistent from the army and exhausted several years in Europe.

Unwind would return to the force business in 1872 as helmsman of the Atlantic and Ready to step in Western Railroad.

From 1878 watchdog 1881, he served one passing as the governor of Pristine Jersey. McClellan’s later years were spent writing a memoir named McClellan’s Own Story, which was published after his 1885 grip at the age of 58.

Citation Information

Article Title

George McClellan

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/george-b-mcclellan

Date Accessed

January 18, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 10, 2019

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009