George B. McClellan
George Brinton McClellan was an American soldier, civil engineer, railroad executive, and politician. A graduate of West Point, McClellan served with distinction during the Mexican–American War, and later left the Army to work in railroads until the outbreak of the Americ…
Woodstock
Woodstock was an American music festival held August 15–18, 1969, which attracted an audience of more than 400,000. Billed as "an Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music", it was held at Max Yasgur's 600-acre dairy farm in Bethel, New York, 43 miles southwest of Woodstock. It was al…
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What was George McClellan known for in the Civil War?
George Brinton McClellan is often remembered as the great organizer of the Union Army of the Potomac. Nicknamed "Young Napoleon," "Little Mac" was immensely popular with the men who served under his command.
What impact did George McClellan have?
McClellan organized and led the Union army in the Peninsula Campaign in southeastern Virginia from March through July 1862. It was the first large-scale offensive in the Eastern Theater.
What was George McClellan's reputation?
George B. McClellan is one of the most controversial military figures of the Civil War, and his historical reputation is largely negative. To his credit, however, the later Union victories in the eastern theater of the war owed much to his forging of the Army of the Potomac.
What was George McClellan greatest accomplishments?
In the Mexican War, he won brevets of 1st Lieutenant and Captain for his zeal, gallantry, and ability in constructing roads and bridges over routes for the marching army. He was also an instructor at West Point for 3 years. McClellan's other accomplishments include surveyor of possible transcontinental railroad routes.
How did George McClellan change the Civil War?
Lincoln preferred an overland campaign toward Richmond, but McClellan proposed an amphibious maneuver in which the Union Army would land on the Virginia Peninsula, effectively circumventing the rebels under General Joseph E. Johnston.
Why was Lincoln mad at George McClellan?
He thought the enemy had a much larger force. His retreat made Lincoln so mad that he suspended McClellan from command of all the armies, leaving him only the Army of the Potomac. McClellan blamed the War Department, Lincoln, and the Secretary of Defense for his defeats.
What did Lincoln say about General McClellan?
Lincoln is concerned with General McClellan's inability to move his army against the Confederates and plainly tells him so. Lincoln seems to be stating that McClellan is hesitating when the enemy is constantly on the move.
What did Lee say about McClellan?
After the war, Lee pegged McClellan “an able but timid commander,” and the military record between the two justifies why Lee thought McClellan a capable battlefield commander.
What general did McClellan replace early in the war?
Winfield ScottOn November 1, 1861, President Abraham Lincoln names George Brinton McClellan general in chief of the Union army, replacing the aged and infirm Winfield Scott. In just six months, McClellan had gone from commander of the Ohio volunteers to the head of the Union army.
What did McClellan do after the Battle of Antietam?
McClellan lets Confederates retreat from Antietam. Confederate General Robert E. Lee's army pulls away from Antietam Creek, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and heads back to Virginia.
Who won the battle of Shiloh?
United States (Union)On April 7, 1862, the Battle of Shiloh ended with a United States (Union) victory over Confederate forces in Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee.
Who designed the McClellan saddle?
George B. McClellanThe McClellan Cavalry Saddle, designed by George B. McClellan in the mid- 1850's, was used by the U. S. Army from 1859 until the 1940's when the last horse cavalry and horse artillery was disbanded.
What was General McClellan's strategy for attacking Richmond?
His plan was to invade Virginia from the sea and to seize Richmond and the other major cities in the South. McClellan believed that to keep resistance to a minimum, it should be made clear that the Union forces would not interfere with slavery and would help put down any slave insurrections.
Which leader was most directly affected by Virginia secession at the start of the Civil War?
Most importantly, Virginia brought with it a 54 year old U.S. Army Colonel: Robert E. Lee. Lee was offered a Union command on April 18, one day after Virginia's effective secession, but he turned it down. Lee took up a Confederate army commission five days later, becoming a brigadier general. Lee would prove to be one ...
Why was control of the Mississippi River important?
Control of the Mississippi River during the American Civil War was an economic and psychological factor for both the North and the South. For many years, the river had served as a vital waterway for midwestern farmers shipping their goods to the eastern states by way of the Gulf of Mexico.
What did Lincoln say about General McClellan?
Lincoln is concerned with General McClellan's inability to move his army against the Confederates and plainly tells him so. Lincoln seems to be stating that McClellan is hesitating when the enemy is constantly on the move.
What battle did McClellan take command of?
Returning to Washington as news of the Union defeat at the Second Battle of Bull Run (August 29–30) was received, McClellan was asked to take command of the army for the defense of the capital. Again exercising his organizing capability, he was able to rejuvenate Union forces.
Who wrote the cover of the March of the Great Potomac Army?
Cover of sheet music for “Parade March of the Great Potomac Army,” dedicated to Gen. George B. McClellan; composed by Chas. Fradel, published by Beer & Schirmer, 1861.
What was the purpose of the American Civil War?
Fractured by ideology and economy, this war sought to unify a divided nation. From famous battles to infamous generals, test your knowledge of the American Civil War in this quiz.
Who was the commander of the Army of the Potomac?
Courtesy Brian C. Pohanka, Alexandria, VA. After the disastrous Union defeat at the First Battle of Bull Run the same month, McClellan was placed in command of what was to become the Army of the Potomac. He was charged with the defense of the capital and destruction of the enemy’s forces in northern and eastern Virginia.
Who made the Chicago platform?
The Chicago Platform and Candidate, lithograph by Currier & Ives, 1864.
Who was removed from command in November 1862?
But he again failed to move rapidly to destroy Lee’s army, and, as a result, the exasperated president removed him from command in November. Antietam, Battle of: Lincoln and McClellan meet in the general's tent. President Abraham Lincoln and General George B. McClellan in the general's tent, Antietam, Maryland, October 3, 1862.
Who was the governor of New Jersey in 1864?
In 1864 McClellan was nominated for the presidency by the Democratic Party, though he repudiated its platform, which denounced the war as a failure. On election day he resigned his army commission and later sailed for Europe. Returning in 1868, he served as chief engineer of the New York Department of Docks (1870–72) and in 1872 became president of the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad. He served one term as governor of New Jersey (elected 1877) and spent his remaining years traveling and writing his memoirs.
Who was George McClellan?
George Brinton McClellan (December 3, 1826 – October 29, 1885) was an American soldier, Civil War Union general, civil engineer, railroad executive, and politician who served as the 24th Governor of New Jersey. A graduate of West Point, ...
How did McClellan damage his reputation?
McClellan further damaged his reputation by his insulting insubordination to his commander-in-chief. He privately referred to Lincoln, whom he had known before the war as a lawyer for the Illinois Central, as "nothing more than a well-meaning baboon", a "gorilla", and "ever unworthy of ... his high position". On November 13, he snubbed the president, who had come to visit McClellan's house, by making him wait for 30 minutes, only to be told that the general had gone to bed and could not receive him.
What did Lincoln say to General McClellan?
On January 10, Lincoln met with top generals (McClellan did not attend) and directed them to formulate a plan of attack, expressing his exasperation with General McClellan with the following remark: "If General McClellan does not want to use the army, I would like to borrow it for a time." On January 12, 1862, McClellan was summoned to the White House, where the Cabinet demanded to hear his war plans. For the first time, he revealed his intentions to transport the Army of the Potomac by ship to Urbanna, Virginia, on the Rappahannock River, outflanking the Confederate forces near Washington, and proceeding 50 miles (80 km) overland to capture Richmond. He refused to give any specific details of the proposed campaign, even to his friend, newly appointed War Secretary Edwin M. Stanton. On January 27, Lincoln issued an order that required all of his armies to begin offensive operations by February 22, Washington's birthday. On January 31, he issued a supplementary order for the Army of the Potomac to move overland to attack the Confederates at Manassas Junction and Centreville. McClellan immediately replied with a 22-page letter objecting in detail to the president's plan and advocating instead his Urbanna plan, which was the first written instance of the plan's details being presented to the president. Although Lincoln believed his plan was superior, he was relieved that McClellan finally agreed to begin moving, and reluctantly approved. On March 8, doubting McClellan's resolve, Lincoln again interfered with the army commander's prerogatives. He called a council of war at the White House in which McClellan's subordinates were asked about their confidence in the Urbanna plan. They expressed their confidence to varying degrees. After the meeting, Lincoln issued another order, naming specific officers as corps commanders to report to McClellan (who had been reluctant to do so prior to assessing his division commanders' effectiveness in combat, even though this would have meant his direct supervision of twelve divisions in the field).
How many men did General McClellan have in his army?
McClellan's army began to sail from Alexandria on March 17. It was an armada that dwarfed all previous American expeditions, transporting 121,500 men, 44 artillery batteries, 1,150 wagons, over 15,000 horses, and tons of equipment and supplies. An English observer remarked that it was the "stride of a giant". The army's advance from Fort Monroe up the Virginia Peninsula proved to be slow. McClellan's plan for a rapid seizure of Yorktown was foiled by the removal of 1st Corps from the Army of the Potomac for the defense of Washington. McClellan had hoped to use the 1st Corps to capture Glouchester Point and thus outflank the Confederate position. When he discovered that the Confederates had fortified a line across the Peninsula he hesitated to attack. As Swinton notes "It is possible, however—and there is a considerable volume of evidence bearing upon this point—that General McClellan, during all the earlier portion of the month before Yorktown, had it in his mind, even without McDowell's corps, to undertake the decisive turning movement by the north side of the York. In this event, it would not only be in the direction of his plan to make no attack, but it would play into his hands that his opponent should accumulate his forces on the Peninsula. Yet this halting between two opinions had the result that, when he had abandoned the purpose of making the turning movement, it had become too late for him to make a direct attack." McClellan asked for the opinion of his chief engineer John G. Barnard, who recommended against an assault. This caused him to decide on a siege of the city, which required considerable preparation.
How far was McClellan from Malvern Hill?
In the battle of Glendale, McClellan was five miles (8 km) away behind Malvern Hill, without telegraph communications and too distant to command his army. In the battle of Malvern Hill, he was on a gunboat, the USS Galena, which at one point was ten miles (16 km) away, down the James River.
What did McClellan do at West Point?
McClellan returned to West Point to command his engineering company, which was attached to the academy for the purpose of training cadets in engineering activities. He chafed at the boredom of peacetime garrison service, although he greatly enjoyed the social life. In June 1851, he was ordered to Fort Delaware, a masonry work under construction on an island in the Delaware River, forty miles (65 km) downriver from Philadelphia. In March 1852, he was ordered to report to Capt. Randolph B. Marcy at Fort Smith, Arkansas, to serve as second-in-command on an expedition to discover the sources of the Red River. By June the expedition reached the source of the north fork of the river and Marcy named a small tributary McClellan's Creek. Upon their arrival on July 28, they were astonished to find that they had been given up for dead. A sensational story had reached the press that the expedition had been ambushed by 2,000 Comanches and killed to the last man. McClellan blamed the story on "a set of scoundrels, who seek to keep up agitation on the frontier in order to get employment from the Govt. in one way or other."
Why was Lee defeated in the Battle of the Seven Days?
The battle was tactically inconclusive, with the Union suffering a higher overall number of casualties, although Lee technically was defeated because he withdrew first from the battlefield and retreated back to Virginia, and lost a larger percentage of his army than McClellen did. McClellan wired to Washington, "Our victory was complete. The enemy is driven back into Virginia." Yet there was obvious disappointment that McClellan had not crushed Lee, who was fighting with a smaller army with its back to the Potomac River. Although McClellan's subordinates can claim their share of responsibility for delays (such as Ambrose Burnside 's misadventures at Burnside Bridge) and blunders ( Edwin V. Sumner 's attack without reconnaissance), these were localized problems from which the full army could have recovered. As with the decisive battles in the Seven Days, McClellan's headquarters were too far to the rear to allow his personal control over the battle. He made no use of his cavalry forces for reconnaissance. He did not share his overall battle plans with his corps commanders, which prevented them from using initiative outside of their sectors. And he was far too willing to accept cautious advice about saving his reserves, such as when a significant breakthrough in the center of the Confederate line could have been exploited, but Fitz John Porter is said to have told McClellan, "Remember, General, I command the last reserve of the last Army of the Republic."
What was George McClellan's career?
George McClellan Facts and Accomplishments. George McClellan was an American soldier, civil engineer, railroad executive, and politician. He was a graduate from West Point and served with distinction during the Mexican-American War and became a successful railroad executive after the war was over. He joined the Union Army when war broke out ...
Where was George McClellan born?
George McClellan was born into wealth. His father was a prominent surgeon in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the founder of the Jefferson Medical College. His mother was from a leading family in Pennsylvania and was known for her grace and refinement. His family had been in America since its founding and he was the great-grandson of the Revolutionary War general, Samuel McClellan. He was educated at the University of Pennsylvania to begin a study in law which he then changed to the study of war. His father was able to pen a letter to President John Tyler to get young George into the United States Military Academy.
What happened to McClellan after he was defeated?
After his defeat, he and Abraham Lincoln engaged in a long political feud that resulted in McClellan being fired twice from his command and eventually running against President Lincoln in the 1864 Presidential Election.
What did McClellan write about the Crimean War?
He also wrote a manual on cavalry tactics that were based on Russian cavalry regulations. Like other observers, though, McClellan did not appreciate the importance of the emergence of rifled muskets in the Crimean War, and the fundamental changes in warfare tactics it would require.
Why was McClellan assigned to the 1st Cavalry Regiment?
In March 1855, McClellan was promoted to captain and assigned to the 1st U.S. Cavalry Regiment. Because of his political connections and his mastery of French, McClellan received the assignment to be an official observer of the European armies in the Crimean War in 1855.
What did McClellan learn from Scott?
He learned that flanking movements (used by Scott at Cerro Gordo) are often better than frontal assaults, and the value of siege operations (Veracruz). He witnessed Scott’s success in balancing political with military affairs and his good relations with the civil population as he invaded, enforcing strict discipline on his soldiers to minimize damage to property. McClellan also developed a disdain for volunteer soldiers and officers, particularly politicians who cared nothing for discipline and training.
What was the name of the men who influenced McClellan's actions during the Mexican-American War?
During the conflict he would make many new friends and be influenced by the major Generals of the war. Men such as Winfield Scott and Zachary Taylor would influence the strategies he would use during the Civil War .
What is George McClellan known for?
Throughout his life, George McClellan was known for his personality, having a mix of positive and negative traits. He had a good memory for names and faces of virtually everyone he met.
Where was James McClellan born?
Life and work. McClellan was born on December 22, 1796 in Woodstock, Connecticut, the son of Eunice (Eldredge) and James McClellan. His family was of Scottish and English ancestry. His great-grandfather fought on the Jacobite side in the Battle of Culloden, the last pitched battle in Britain, before immigrating to Worcester, Massachusetts.
Who was the first surgeon to perform a lens extraction?
His fame led him to operate on patients from the United States, but he also attracted patients from Europe, the West Indies, and South America, especially for operations in ophthalmic surgery. McClellan was one of the first surgeons to perform a lens extraction, and was the first American to perform many operations, including removal of the parotid gland.
Who was William Darrach's teacher?
Even before founding Jefferson Medical College, McClellan was regarded as a great teacher, with his colleague, William Darrach, stating, " [a] teacher so qualified will attract pupils.". He had added an anatomy and surgery teaching room next to his office and lectured nightly to students of his medical classes.
Who was the founder of medical schools?
Founder of medical schools. George McClellan gave a series of private anatomy lectures before deciding to found a new medical school. Many unsuccessful requests had already been made for a new medical school in Philadelphia so he and others had the idea to couple it with Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania.
Who opened the medical department of Pennsylvania College?
For his next project, McClellan opened The Medical Department of Pennsylvania College with Samuel Colhoun, William Rush, and Samuel George Morton in Philadelphia, giving the first course of lectures in November 1839. Due to monetary circumstances, the four men resigned their professorships in 1843.
Who edited the Principles and Practice of Surgery?
The book was left as a manuscript in 1847, but was edited by his son John H. B. McClellan and published the following year.
Who was George McClellan?
George B. McClellan was an American soldier, political leader, railroad executive and civil engineer. McClellan began his military career as a second lieutenant and served in the 'Mexican-American War.'. He later quit the army to work in railroads, but re-joined the army as a major general during the 'American Civil War.'.
Why did McClellan move to Columbus?
Along with Jacob Cox, McClellan moved to Columbus to inspect Ohio's weapons and other supplies to equip all the state's militia units. Despite the lack of equipment, Ohio Governor William Dennison decided to revive the militia system and establish units to be sent to the capital Columbus.
Why was McClellan called the Young Napoleon?
McClellan was nicknamed "The Young Napoleon" after winning a series of small combats in western Virginia. His first assignment was to disperse small units of armed forces across the Ohio River into western Virginia to fragment Confederate divisions.
What was the name of the Confederate army that marched east toward the capital of Richmond?
Peninsula Campaign. McClellan started his amphibious 'Peninsula Campaign' in March 1862. His 'Army of the Potomac' marched east toward the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia. He was initially successful in landing and marching his army toward Richmond.
What happened to Lincoln in 1862?
As a result of this, President Lincoln removed him from command in November 1862. In 1864, the Democratic Party nominated him for the presidency against Abraham Lincoln.
When was McClellan's own story published?
In his final years, he wrote a memoir, 'McClellan's Own Story,' which was published posthumously in 1887.
Who was the General who led the Confederate army?
After some minor combats, General Robert E. Lee took the Confederate army under his command. McClellan thought that the Confederates had a larger army than his and hence stopped his march on the city to wait for the reinforcements. In the 'Seven Days Battles,' General Lee attacked the 'Army of the Potomac.'.
Overview
George Brinton McClellan (December 3, 1826 – October 29, 1885) was an American soldier, Civil War Union general, civil engineer, railroad executive, and politician who served as the 24th governor of New Jersey. A graduate of West Point, McClellan served with distinction during the Mexican–American War (1846–1848), and later left the Army to serve as an executive and engineer on …
Early life and career
George Brinton McClellan was born in Philadelphia on December 3, 1826, the son of a prominent surgeon, Dr. George McClellan, the founder of Jefferson Medical College. His father's family was of Scottish and English heritage. His mother was Elizabeth Sophia Steinmetz Brinton McClellan (1800–1889), daughter of a leading Pennsylvania family, a woman noted for her "considerable grace and r…
Civil War
At the start of the Civil War, McClellan's knowledge of what was called "big war science" and his railroad experience suggested he might excel at military logistics. This placed him in great demand as the Union mobilized. The governors of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, the three largest states of the Union, actively pursued him to command their states' militia. Ohio Governor Wil…
1864 presidential election
Secretary Stanton ordered McClellan to report to Trenton, New Jersey, for further orders, although none was issued. As the war progressed, there were various calls to return McClellan to an important command, following the Union defeats at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, as Robert E. Lee moved north at the start of the Gettysburg campaign, and as Jubal Early threatened Washington in 1864…
Postbellum years
At the conclusion of the war (1865) McClellan and his family went to Europe, not returning until 1868; in this period he did not participate in politics. Prior to his return in September 1868, the Democratic Party had expressed some interest in nominating him for president again, but Ulysses S. Grant became the Republican candidate in May 1868, and this interest died. McClellan worked on engineerin…
Governor of New Jersey
McClellan was a resident of West Orange, New Jersey in 1877 when the New Jersey Democratic Party nominated him for governor, an action that took him by surprise because he had not expressed an interest in the position. His nomination was largely an effort by key party members to prevent the leading candidate, Leon Abbett, from gaining the nomination. After his name was unexpectedly placed into nomination at the state convention, there was a stampede and he was …
Retirement and death
The concluding chapter of his political career was his strong support in 1884 for Grover Cleveland. He sought the position of Secretary of War in Cleveland's cabinet, but Senator John R. McPherson, who had opposed McClellan for governor in 1877, succeeded in blocking his nomination.
McClellan devoted his final years to traveling and writing; he produced his memoirs, McClellan's Own Story (published posthumously in 1887), in which he stridently defended his conduct durin…
Family
McClellan's son, George B. McClellan Jr. (1865–1940), was born in Dresden in the Kingdom of Saxony during the family's first trip to Europe. Known within the family as Max, he too became a politician, serving as a United States Representative (1893–1903) and as Mayor of New York City from 1904 to 1909.
McClellan's daughter, Mary ("May") (1861–1945), married a French diplomat and spent much of …