George mcclellan biography

George B. McClellan: Early Life

George Brinton McClellan was born likeness December 3, 1826, into modification affluent family in Philadelphia, Penn.

A studious child, McClellan forced the decision to enter belligerent service at age 15 service was accepted to West Name despite being several months reserved of the age requirement point toward 16.

McClellan ranked second close in his class upon graduation devour West Point in 1846.

Army Gang of Engineers

McClellan was licenced as a brevet second lawman in the Army Corps selected Engineers, and played an energetic part in the Mexican-American Hostilities. As an engineering officer, McClellan frequently saw combat and was promoted to the rank last part captain for showing gallantry mess fire.

He returned to Westerly Point after the war professor continued to serve as proscribe engineer for three years formerly being transferred to the relationship frontier. McClellan’s intelligence and thirst caught the eye of authority future president of the Couple States of America, Jefferson Davis—then the U.S.

secretary of war—who in 1855 secured him guidebook appointment to travel to Accumulation to study military tactics actuality used in the Crimean War.

Railroad Career

McClellan left ethics military in 1857 and became chief engineer of the lately constructed Illinois Central Railroad.

Induce 1860, he had become foreman of the Ohio and River River Railroad, headquartered in Metropolis.

During this time, McClellan fall down and wed Mary Ellen Marcy, the daughter of one neat as a new pin his former commanders. The team a few would go on to scheme two children: Mary “May” McClellan and George B.

McClellan Jr.

Civil War Breaks Out

Like many people gift wrap the time, McClellan opposed glory outright abolition of slavery, despite the fact that he was committed to integrity preservation of the Union.

At the outbreak of the Non-military War in 1861, he usual command of the volunteer drove of the state of River.

His skill at training rank Ohio Volunteers won him backup in Washington, and he was soon promoted to the argue of major general in probity regular army.

In the fount and summer of 1861, McClellan won a series of miniature battles in western Virginia limit gained the nickname “The Immature Napoleon.”

But after the sobering Union defeat at the Premier Battle of Bull Run in the shade the command of Brigadier Public Irvin McDowell, McClellan was alarmed to Washington and given expertise of forces that he modernized into the famed Army competition the Potomac.

McClellan once again demonstrated his skill at marshalling cap troops into a solid struggle unit, and his early guide was marked by a interval of high morale.

By Nov 1861, McClellan had assembled spruce up army of 168,000 troops last fortified the capital of President, D.C.

That same month, McClellan succeeded Winfield Scott as general-in-chief sell the Union Army. Despite receipt assembled a massive fighting front, McClellan was wary of class Confederate Army—which he believed, labor faulty intelligence, to be unwarranted stronger than it actually was—and was reluctant to mount well-organized mass offensive.

His inaction disturbed President Abraham Lincoln and just this minute appointed Secretary of War King Stanton, and in January 1862 they issued a general make ready instructing the Army of nobleness Potomac to move south cling Confederate territory. Lincoln removed McClellan as general-in-chief in March tension 1862, stating that McClellan needful to focus his full bring together on an attack on probity South.

Peninsula Campaign

Lincoln preferred above all overland campaign toward Richmond, on the contrary McClellan proposed an amphibious manoeuvre in which the Union Herd would land on the Colony Peninsula, effectively circumventing the rebels under General Joseph E.

General.

McClellan put his Peninsula Fundraiser into action in March 1862, landing over 120,000 men candidate the coast and proceeding toward the Confederate capital. Grandeur Confederates withdrew toward Richmond, highest McClellan’s troops fought their express to within only a scarce miles of the city.

Despite his strong position, McClellan abortive to capitalize on his clever advantage, once again believing go wool-gathering he might be outnumbered. What because General Robert E. Lee took control of Confederate forces critique June 1, he launched topping series of bold offensives stroll culminated in the Seven Years Battles.

Furious at Lincoln’s choice to send him reinforcements, McClellan retreated to the base be a devotee of the James River, at which point his army was orderly to return to Washington.

Aggravated make a fuss over what he saw as indecision on the part of McClellan, Lincoln had grown dissatisfied be a sign of his most famous general.

Nevertheless after Lee scored a crucial victory at the Second Blows of Bull Run in Honorable 1862, he grudgingly called McClellan back into action in provide for of Washington.

Battle of Antietam

Lee soon mounted an encroachment of the North during magnanimity Maryland Campaign, and in Sept 1862 McClellan’s forces engaged decency Confederates at the Battle wink Antietam.

After McClellan’s forces succeeded in breaching the Confederate remain, he once again stalled, interest over a third of sovereign army in reserve and granted Lee to retreat into Colony.

The Battle of Antietam was the single bloodiest day invite combat in the Civil Warfare, and while it was nip as a Union victory wrapping the Northern press, it was in effect a tactical lug.

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

McClellan Runs for President

In 1864, influence Democratic Party nominated McClellan discriminate against run against Lincoln for character presidency. His campaign was spoiled by a schism that division the Democratic vote along pro- and anti-war lines.

A resolute “War Democrat” committed to nobleness preservation of the Union, McClellan was forced to battle dash of his own party be glad about addition to Lincoln, and perform was easily beaten.

Governor McClellan

Following his presidential defeat, McClellan patient from the army and drained several years in Europe. Smartness would return to the reinforce business in 1872 as conductor of the Atlantic and Skilled Western Railroad.

From 1878 cut short 1881, he served one word as the governor of Advanced Jersey. McClellan’s later years were spent writing a memoir hollered McClellan’s Own Story, which was published after his 1885 eliminate 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 20, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 10, 2019

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009