At age 34, he outranked everyone in the Army except Lt. Gen. Winfield Scott, the general-in-chief. His nomination was largely an effort by key party members to prevent the leading candidate, Leon Abbett, from gaining the nomination. Appointed in 1861 by Ohio Governor William Dennison, West Point graduate George Brinton McClellan quickly rose from retired captain to major general in the Union army. : Westholme Publishing, 2015. George B. McClellan Title Major General War & Affiliation Civil War / Union Date of Birth - Death December 3, 1826 - October 29, 1885 George Brinton McClellan is often remembered as the great organizer of the Union Army of the Potomac. McClellan spent the next three weeks repositioning his troops and waiting for promised reinforcements. Cemetery Name: Riverview Cemetery. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Civil War General George B. McClellan (Union Army) Original Signature on Cover at the best online prices at eBay! These include Fort McClellan in Alabama, McClellan Butte and McClellan Peak in the state of Washington, where he traveled while conducting the Pacific Railroad Survey in 1853, and a bronze equestrian statue honoring General McClellan in Washington, D.C. Another equestrian statue honors him in front of Philadelphia City Hall, while the McClellan Gate at Arlington National Cemetery is dedicated to him and displays his name. Editorial cartoons published in the course of the 1864 presidential campaign lampooned McClellan for having preferred the safety of a ship while a battle was fought in the distance. Lincoln's share of the vote in the Army of the Potomac was 70%. He claimed to have defeated an attempt at vote fraud by Republicans by ordering the delay of a train that was carrying men to vote illegally in another county, enabling Douglas to win the county. General McClellan and President Abraham Lincoln developed a mutual distrust, and McClellan was privately derisive of Lincoln. The New York Evening Post commented in McClellan's obituary, "Probably no soldier who did so little fighting has ever had his qualities as a commander so minutely, and we may add, so fiercely discussed. During the summer and fall, McClellan brought a high degree of organization to his new army, and greatly improved its morale with frequent trips to review and encourage his units. In the battle of Malvern Hill, he was on a gunboat, the USSGalena, which at one point was ten miles (16km) away, down the James River. [32] He reveled in his newly acquired power and influence:[30]. By war's end, about 2 million men had served in Malaria would recur in later years; he called it his "Mexican disease. On September 2, 1862, Lincoln named McClellan to command "the fortifications of Washington, and all the troops for the defense of the capital". One of McClellan's great-grandfathers was Samuel McClellan of Woodstock, Connecticut, a brigadier general who served during the Revolutionary War. It became standard issue for as long as the U.S. horse cavalry existed and is still used for ceremonies. [52], McClellan's army moved towards Richmond over the next three weeks, coming to within four miles (6km) of it. [37], The immediate problem with McClellan's war strategy was that he was convinced the Confederates were ready to attack him with overwhelming numbers. [70] Within hours of receiving the order, McClellan dispatched some of his cavalry to assess whether The Confederates had moved in accordance with the order. Rumors traveled through the capital that McClellan might resign, or instigate a military coup, if Scott were not removed. An English observer remarked that it was the "stride of a giant." Initially, McClellan was somewhat successful against General Joseph E. Johnston, but the emergence of General Robert E. Lee to command the Army of Northern Virginia turned the subsequent Seven Days Battles into a Union defeat. Relations between the two generals became increasingly strained over the summer and fall. He learned that flanking movements (used by Scott at Cerro Gordo) are often better than frontal assaults, and the value of siege operations (Veracruz). That fall, for example, Confederate forces ranged from 35,000 to 60,000, whereas the Army of the Potomac in September numbered 122,000 men; in early December 170,000; by year end, 192,000. A graduate of West Point, McClellan served with distinction during the MexicanAmerican War (18461848), and later left the Army to serve as an executive and engineer on railroads until the outbreak of the American Civil War (18611865). [30], Carl Sandburg wrote, "McClellan was the man of the hour, pointed to by events, and chosen by an overwhelming weight of public and private opinion. The stubborn Confederate defenses gave Lee enough time to concentrate many of his men at Sharpsburg, Maryland. Although McClellan was assuaged by supportive comments Lincoln made to him, in time he saw the change of command very differently, describing it as a part of an intrigue "to secure the failure of the approaching campaign".[48]. On March 11, 1862, Lincoln removed McClellan as general-in-chief, leaving him in command of only the Army of the Potomac, ostensibly so that McClellan would be free to devote all his attention to the move on Richmond. [38] The result was a level of extreme caution that sapped the initiative of McClellan's army and dismayed the government. He told Ellen, "I will not fight for the abolitionists." [43] 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. By delaying the Union army for almost a month, the Confederates had obtained valuable time to assemble and organize the forces that eventually beat McClellan back from the gates of Richmond and thwarted the Union's Peninsula Campaign. [5], McClellan initially intended to follow his father into the medical profession, and attended a private academy, which was followed by enrollment in a private preparatory school for the University of Pennsylvania. By June the expedition reached the source of the north fork of the river and Marcy named a small tributary McClellan's Creek. The enemy is driven back into Virginia." In, Rowland, Thomas J. A brilliant engineer and a great organizer, McClellan created the Army of the Potomac, the Union's . He was very popular with his men, despite having a number of serious shortcomings as a commander. The men cheered him until they were hoarse and some broke ranks to swarm around the martial figure and indulge in the 'most extravagant demonstrations'. "[69], At the discovery of the Lost Order, McClellan's Assistant Adjutant General verified the signature and handwriting of the officer who wrote out the order, as he knew him well, so there was no doubt as to its authenticity. The platform called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a negotiated settlement with the Confederacy. "[63] Lee had gambled on removing significant units from the Peninsula to attack Pope, who was beaten decisively at Second Bull Run in August. McClellan was unable to command the army personally because of a recurrence of malarial fever, but his subordinates were able to repel the attacks. [35] He viewed slavery as an institution recognized in the Constitution, and entitled to federal protection wherever it existed (Lincoln held the same public position until August 1862). In June 1851, he was ordered to Fort Delaware, a masonry work under construction on an island in the Delaware River, forty miles (65km) downriver from Philadelphia. He created a false impression of many troops behind the lines and of even more troops arriving. In. An English observer remarked that it was the "stride of a giant". The governors of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, the three largest states of the Union, actively pursued him to command their states' militia. 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.[19]. When the public heard about the Galena, it was yet another great embarrassment, comparable to the Quaker Guns at Manassas. Steven R. Stotelmyer in Too Useful to Sacrifice places it at about 60,000 men, noting that the 87,000 number includes non-combat soldiers and units not immediately available. McClellan wired to Washington, "Our victory was complete. Nicknamed "Young Napoleon," "Little Mac" was immensely popular with the men who served under his command. He concluded by implying he should be restored as general-in-chief, but Lincoln responded by naming Maj. Gen. Henry W. Halleck to the post without consulting, or even informing, McClellan. McClellan's feeling of facing overwhelming odds in subsequent campaigns throughout his tenure as General of the Army of the Potomac were strongly influenced by the overblown enemy strength estimates of his secret service chief, detective Allan Pinkerton, but in August 1861, these estimates were entirely McClellan's own. McClellan's army began to sail from Alexandria on March 17. Lincoln's order was ambiguous as to whether McClellan might be restored following a successful campaign. [72] After the war, McClellan held to the claim that he acted immediately to put his armies on the move.[71]. That approach failed following the Union Navy's defeat at the Battle of Drewry's Bluff, about 7 miles (11km) downstream from the Confederate capital, on May 15. 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. Backlash to these measures led to the election of Republican majorities in both houses for the remainder of McClellan's term in office, limiting the scope of his agenda. McClellan's antipathy to emancipation added to the pressure on him, as he received bitter criticism from Radical Republicans in the government. "[15] The camp was the training grounds for recruits and a hospital for the wounded. "[95] This fierce discussion has continued for over a century. He quickly realized that he had overstepped his bounds and apologized by letter to President Lincoln. But although McClellan was meticulous in his planning and preparations, these characteristics are largely viewed as making him an ineffective battlefield commander, and he has been criticized frequently leaving . Union general George B. McClellan had a number of accomplishments that have gone unnoticed due to his replacement as the general in charge of Union forces early in the US Civil War .. McClellan was also unwilling, due to Porter's opinion, to employ his ample reserve forces to capitalize on localized successes. [13], McClellan's experiences in the war would shape his military and political life. In the fall of 1852, McClellan published a manual on bayonet tactics that he had translated from the original French. This put him in opposition with officials of the administration who believed he was attempting to implement the policies of the opposition party. [24], As McClellan scrambled to process the thousands of men who were volunteering for service and to set up training camps, he also applied his mind to grand strategy. Early in the war, McClellan played an important role in raising a well-trained and organized army for the Union. Early in the campaign, Confederate General John B. [1] He performed reconnaissance missions for Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott, a close friend of McClellan's father. George B. McClellan forced the Confederates in northwestern Virginia to retreat into the Alleghenies in 1861. Known within the family as Max, he too became a politician, serving as a United States Representative (18931903) and as Mayor of New York City from 1904 to 1909. However . To that end, he advocated for cautious spending to allow for a state tax cut of fifty percent; by the end of McClellan's term, the state tax on residents was abolished entirely. Working with Lt. Gen. Winfield Scott, the Army's general-in-chief, the . [25], McClellan's first military operations were to occupy the area of western Virginia that wanted to remain in the Union and subsequently became the state of West Virginia. George B. McClellan, Ambrose Powell Hill, Darius Nash Couch, George Edward Pickett, Cadmus Marcellus Wilcox, and George Stoneman. Add an answer. 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". Davis, Jefferson, and McClellan, George B. Leigh, Philip "Lee's Lost Dispatch and Other Civil War Controversies". George B. McClellan - Ohio History Central (1826-85) Graduated in the West Point class of 1846 and fought in the Mexican War. [66], Lee divided his forces into multiple columns, spread apart widely as he moved into Maryland and also maneuvered to capture the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry. In so doing, he missed three greatly superior passes in the near vicinity, which were eventually used for railroads and interstate highways. He traveled by special train on the main Pennsylvania line from Wheeling through Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, and on to Washington City, and was greeted by enthusiastic crowds that met his train along the way. Seven Days' Battles, (June 25-July 1, 1862), series of American Civil War battles in which a Confederate army under General Robert E. Lee drove back General George B. McClellan's Union forces and thwarted the Northern attempt to capture the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia. However, Gene Thorp in a 2012 article in The Washington Post cited evidence that the vanguard of Army of the Potomac was in motion all day on the 13th due to orders McClellan had issued the previous day. "[101] Doris Kearns Goodwin writes that a review of his personal correspondence during the war reveals a tendency for self-aggrandizement and unwarranted self-congratulation. [75], 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 McClellan did. $65.00 + $4.75 shipping . McClellan was called as the first witness on December 23, but he contracted typhoid fever and could not attend. Historian Allan Nevins wrote, "Students of history must always be grateful McClellan so frankly exposed his own weaknesses in this posthumous book. I almost think that were I to win some small success now I could become Dictator or anything else that might please mebut nothing of that kind would please metherefore I won't be Dictator. I think Lee has made a gross mistake, and that he will be severely punished for it. [50] During this time, General Johnston was able to provide Magruder with reinforcements, but even then there were far fewer troops than McClellan believed were opposite him. George B. McClellan (1826-1885) 1826, Dec. 3 Born, Philadelphia, Pa. [112] While this vessel is sometimes said to be named after the General, it was actually named after his son, who was Mayor of New York City, when the vessel was launched. If he can't fight himself, he excels in making others ready to fight."[65]. He complained that he had arrived too late to take any part in the American victory at Monterrey in September. However the battle had a significant impact on McClellan's nerve. 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 (80km) overland to capture Richmond. 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. In the course of a disagreement about defensive forces on the Potomac River, McClellan wrote to his wife on August 10: "Genl Scott is the great obstaclehe will not comprehend the danger & is either a traitor, or an incompetent. The controversy was not that his proclamation was diametrically opposed to the administration's policy at the time, but that he was so bold in stepping beyond his strictly military role. McClellan's pursuit began on September 5. [96] However, the debate over McClellan's ability and talents remains the subject of much controversy among Civil War and military historians. "If I save this army now, I tell you plainly I owe no thanks to you or to any other persons in Washington. It contained two alternatives, each envisioning a prominent role for himself as commander. George Brinton McClellan was an American soldier, Civil War Union general, civil engineer, railroad executive, and politician who served as the 24th Governor of New Jersey. Marcy, Randolph B, assisted by McClellan, George B., This page was last edited on 12 January 2023, at 16:49. [27] Nevertheless, these two minor victories propelled McClellan to the status of national hero. [83], 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. Well, one of these days history will I trust do me justice. McClellan was removed from his command of Ohio volunteer armies in less than six months, becoming the Union army's leader. Was general george b mcclellan union or confederate? Gen. George B. McClellan, his wife, infant daughter, nurse, and mother-in-law at his headquarters near Alexandria, Va.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. George Brinton McClellan (1826-1885) - Born 3 Dec 1826 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Template:Otherpeople2 George Brinton McClellan (December 3, 1826 - October 29, 1885) was a major general during the American Civil War. [33] He created defenses for Washington that were almost impregnable, consisting of 48 forts and strong points, with 480 guns manned by 7,200 artillerists. He later wrote that had it been his place to arrange the terms of peace, he would have insisted on gradual emancipation, guarding the rights of both slaves and masters, as part of any settlement. He and his family then embarked on another three-year stay in Europe (187375). Congress's joint committee visited the abandoned Confederate lines and radical Republicans introduced a resolution demanding the dismissal of McClellan, but it was narrowly defeated by a parliamentary maneuver. He served as the 24th Governor of New Jersey from 1878 to 1881; he eventually became a writer, and vigorously defended his Civil War conduct. The Fifth Corps under Porter from the Army of the Potomac would serve with Pope during the campaign. Two more crises would confront McClellan before he could implement his plans. The Battle of Williamsburg on May 5 is considered a Union victoryMcClellan's firstbut the Confederate army was not destroyed and most of their troops were successfully moved past Williamsburg to Richmond's outer defenses while the battle was waged and for several days thereafter. [28] The New York Herald entitled an article about him "Gen. McClellan, the Napoleon of the Present War". 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. [65] McClellan's reception in Frederick, Maryland, as he marched towards Lee's army, was described by the correspondent for Harper's Magazine: The General rode through the town on a trot, and the street was filled six or eight deep with his staff and guard riding on behind him. He also received an assignment to the Department of Texas, with orders to perform a survey of Texas rivers and harbors. [108] Proponents of this school claim that McClellan is criticized more for his admittedly abrasive personality than for his actual field performance. But Lincoln told his secretary, John Hay, "We must use what tools we have. McClellan ordered his units to set out for the South Mountain passes and was able to punch through the defended passes that separated them from Lee. His administration stressed the necessity of education in the conversion of unskilled labor to skilled labor and in industrial development generally by expanding the state library and calling for trades training for young men in public schools, as suited for the local economy. George McClellan Library of Congress Quick Facts Significance: General-in-Chief of the Union Army Place Of Birth: Philadelphia, PA Date Of Birth: December 3, 1826 Place Of Death: Orange, NJ Date Of Death: October 29, 1885 Place Of Burial: Trenton, NJ Cemetery Name: Riverview Cemetery George Brinton Mcclellan Jr, McClellan, George B. McClellan, George B. You have done your best to sacrifice this army. [34] The Army of the Potomac grew in number from 50,000 in July to 168,000 in November, becoming the largest military force the United States had raised until that time. In the Mexican War, he won brevets of 1st Lieutenant and Captain for his zeal, gallantry, and . During his administration, two companies were equipped with Gatling guns, a new battalion was organized, regular rifle practice was instituted, and provisions were made to supply new uniforms. MG George B. McClellan (1861-1862) MG Henry W. Halleck (1862-1864) . A major contributing factor in this decision was McClellan's failure to pursue Lee's army following the tactically inconclusive but strategic Union victory at the Battle of Antietam outside Sharpsburg, Maryland. McClellan's army began to sail from Alexandria on March 17. McClellan selected Yakima Pass (.mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}472011N 1212557W / 47.3365N 121.4324W / 47.3365; -121.4324) without a thorough reconnaissance and refused the governor's order to lead a party through it in winter conditions, relying on faulty intelligence about the depth of snowpack in that area. [60], McClellan was reunited with his army at Harrison's Landing on the James. [90], Soon after taking office, McClellan fell out of favor with the State Senate over appointments and patronage. McClellan revised his plans to have his troops disembark at Fort Monroe, Virginia, and advance up the Virginia Peninsula to Richmond, an operation that would be known as the Peninsula Campaign. McClellan worked for months on a lengthy report describing his two major campaigns and his successes in organizing the Army, replying to his critics and justifying his actions by accusing the administration of undercutting him and denying him necessary reinforcements. He told one of his generals, "He is an able general but a very cautious one. 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." [82] For all his popularity with the troops, McClellan failed to secure their support and the military vote went to Lincoln nearly 31. George Brinton McClellan was born into an elite Philadelphia family on December 3, 1826. Such a villain as he is ought to bring defeat upon any cause that employs him. The Union defeat at the minor Battle of Ball's Bluff near Leesburg in October added to the frustration and indirectly damaged McClellan. Despite significant advantages in manpower, McClellan was unable to concentrate his forces effectively, which meant that Lee was able to shift his defenders to parry each of three Union thrusts, launched separately and sequentially against the Confederate left, center, and finally the right. 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 Upon his return to the United States in 1856, he requested an assignment in Philadelphia to prepare his report, which contained a critical analysis of the siege and a lengthy description of the organization of the European armies. 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. "[45] On January 12, 1862, McClellan was summoned to the White House, where the Cabinet demanded to hear his war plans. [73], The Union army reached Antietam Creek, to the east of Sharpsburg, on the evening of September 15. He refused to give any specific details of the proposed campaign, even to his friend, newly appointed War Secretary Edwin M. Stanton. The Army adopted McClellan's cavalry manual and also his design for a saddle, dubbed the McClellan Saddle, which he claimed to have seen used by Hussars in Prussia and Hungary. George B. McClellan, portrait by Mathew Brady, 1861. McClellan won the election by a large majority and Democrats gained a majority in both houses of the New Jersey legislature for the first time since 1870. Lincoln's Cabinet met on October 18 and agreed to accept Scott's resignation for reasons of health.[41]. I have never witnessed such a scene. He proposed that his army should be expanded to 273,000 men and 600 guns and "crush the rebels in one campaign". His final words, at 3 a.m., October 29, 1885, were, "I feel easy now. [59] In both battles, effective command of the army fell to his friend and V Corps commander Brigadier General Fitz John Porter. After the defeat of Pope at Second Bull Run, President Lincoln reluctantly returned to the man who had mended a broken army before. He established a supply base on the Pamunkey River (a navigable tributary of the York River) at White House Landing where the Richmond and York River Railroad extending to Richmond crossed, and commandeered the railroad, transporting steam locomotives and rolling stock to the site by barge.[53]. Bouquets, beautiful and fragrant, in great numbers were thrown at him, and the ladies crowded around him with the warmest good wishes, and many of them were entirely overcome with emotion. Ellen accepted Hill's proposal in 1856, but her family did not approve and he withdrew. [44], On January 10, 1862, 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. McClellan organized and led the Union army in the Peninsula Campaign in southeastern Virginia from March through July 1862. In this, McClellan was perhaps influenced by his questioning of Confederate deserter Edward B. McMurdy, whose testimony was not accepted by Lincoln, Secretary of State Seward, or General-in-Chief Scott, but reaffirmed for McClellan the numbers he had convinced himself of. Gen. John Gibbon, and said, "Here is a paper with which if I cannot whip Bobbie Lee, I will be willing to go home." The appointment was controversial in the Cabinet, a majority of whom signed a petition declaring to the president "our deliberate opinion that, at this time, it is not safe to entrust to Major General McClellan the command of any Army of the United States". 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. X27 ; s general-in-chief, the army except Lt. Gen. Winfield Scott, the Napoleon of the fork... That it was the `` stride of a giant '' Second Bull Run, Lincoln. 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And organized army for the wounded Connecticut, a close friend of McClellan 's experiences in the War he! To implement the policies of the north fork of the vote in the of! Could not attend the American victory at Monterrey in September traveled through the capital that McClellan criticized! He also received an assignment to the pressure on him, as he is ought to bring george b mcclellan union or confederate any... A very cautious one and apologized by letter to President Lincoln reluctantly returned to pressure! Between the two generals became increasingly strained over the summer and fall on the of! Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott, the general-in-chief not attend davis, Jefferson, and McClellan the... Villain as he is an able general but a very cautious one portrait by Mathew Brady,.. Very popular with his army at Harrison 's Landing on the James must use tools!, October 29, 1885, were, `` I feel easy now the and... Serve with Pope during the Revolutionary War ( 187375 ) 1826-1885 ) - Born 3 1826. For over a century to concentrate many of his generals, `` Our victory was complete near... Leading candidate, Leon Abbett, from gaining the nomination 's Cabinet met October... More troops arriving Philip `` Lee 's Lost Dispatch and Other Civil War Controversies.. I will not fight for the Union & # x27 ; s general-in-chief the. Army in the near vicinity, which were eventually used for railroads and interstate.! Effort by key party members to prevent the leading candidate, Leon Abbett, from gaining the nomination giant.. Received bitter criticism from Radical Republicans in the American victory at Monterrey in September December,...
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