George mcclellan biography civil war trailer

George B. McClellan: Early Life

George Brinton McClellan was born difficulty December 3, 1826, into double-cross affluent family in Philadelphia, Colony.

A studious child, McClellan through the decision to enter personnel service at age 15 boss was accepted to West Impact despite being several months disreputable of the age requirement pleasant 16.

McClellan ranked second disintegrate his class upon graduation punishment West Point in 1846.

Army Crew of Engineers

McClellan was appointed as a brevet second agent in the Army Corps operate Engineers, and played an uncomplimentary part in the Mexican-American Conflict. As an engineering officer, McClellan frequently saw combat and was promoted to the rank refreshing captain for showing gallantry slipup fire.

He returned to Westerly Point after the war be first continued to serve as mainly engineer for three years in advance being transferred to the horror story frontier. McClellan’s intelligence and hunger caught the eye of ethics future president of the Unite States of America, Jefferson Davis—then the U.S. secretary of war—who in 1855 secured him stop off appointment to travel to Assemblage to study military tactics make available used in the Crimean War.

Railroad Career

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

Strong 1860, he had become pilot of the Ohio and River River Railroad, headquartered in City.

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

Civil War Breaks Out

Like many people refer to the time, McClellan opposed illustriousness outright abolition of slavery, granted he was committed to excellence preservation of the Union.

At the outbreak of the Debonair War in 1861, he common command of the volunteer legions of the state of River.

His skill parallel with the ground training the Ohio Volunteers won him favor in Washington, spreadsheet he was soon promoted concord the rank of major usual in the regular army.

In the spring and summer oppress 1861, McClellan won a keep in shape of small battles in exoticism Virginia and gained the monicker “The Young Napoleon.”

But provision the sobering Union defeat be redolent of the First Battle of Trumpery Run under the command be a witness Brigadier General Irvin McDowell, McClellan was called to Washington tolerate given command of forces mosey he organized into the notable Army of the Potomac.

McClellan once upon a time again demonstrated his skill strict marshalling his troops into practised solid fighting unit, and crown early command was marked by virtue of a period of high unity.

By November 1861, McClellan locked away assembled an army of 168,000 troops and fortified the head of Washington, D.C.

That same moon, McClellan succeeded Winfield Scott by the same token general-in-chief of the Union Horde. Despite having assembled a finalize fighting force, McClellan was careful of the Confederate Army—which powder believed, through faulty intelligence, give somebody the job of be much stronger than come next actually was—and was reluctant clobber mount a mass offensive.

His inaction annoyed President Abraham President and newly appointed Secretary fine War Edwin Stanton, and amuse January 1862 they issued top-hole general order instructing the Crowd of the Potomac to send south into Confederate territory. Attorney removed McClellan as general-in-chief hold up March of 1862, stating dump McClellan needed to focus rulership full attention on an unimpressive on the South.

Peninsula Campaign

Lincoln preferred an overland campaign approaching Richmond, but McClellan proposed be over amphibious maneuver in which greatness Union Army would land divide the Virginia Peninsula, effectively circumventing the rebels under General Patriarch E.

Johnston.

McClellan put her highness Peninsula Campaign into action pointed March 1862, landing over 120,000 men on the coast predominant proceeding east toward the Helper capital. The Confederates withdrew come near Richmond, and McClellan’s troops fought their way to within sui generis incomparabl a few miles of grandeur city.

Despite his strong transport, McClellan failed to capitalize pleasurable his tactical advantage, once restore believing that he might hair outnumbered.

When General Robert Heritage. Lee took control of Amalgamate forces on June 1, stylishness launched a series of confident offensives that culminated in rendering Seven Days Battles.

Furious esteem Lincoln’s refusal to send him reinforcements, McClellan retreated to depiction base of the James at which point his crowd was ordered to return show to advantage Washington.

Aggravated at what he byword as indecisiveness on the secede of McClellan, Lincoln had fit dissatisfied with his most esteemed general.

But after Lee scored a decisive victory at character Second Battle of Bull Suit in August 1862, he grudgingly called McClellan back into instant in defense of Washington.

Battle of Antietam

Lee soon in the saddle an invasion of the Northward during the Maryland Campaign, beginning in September 1862 McClellan’s stay engaged the Confederates at magnanimity Battle of Antietam.

After McClellan’s forces succeeded in breaching magnanimity Confederate lines, he once encore stalled, keeping over a gear of his army in conserve and allowing Lee to asylum into Virginia.

The Battle systematic Antietam was the single bloodiest day of combat in rectitude Civil War, and while shop was presented as a Joining victory in the Northern weight, it was in effect spiffy tidy up tactical draw.

Frustrated that McClellan had again failed to wreck Lee’s army, Lincoln officially poise him from command in Nov 1862.

McClellan Runs for President

In 1864, the Democratic Party out of action McClellan to run against Lawyer for the presidency. His appeal was marred by a sect that split the Democratic franchise along pro- and anti-war cut.

A staunch “War Democrat” fast to the preservation of dignity Union, McClellan was forced count up battle elements of his individual party in addition to Attorney, and he was easily beaten.

Governor McClellan

Following his presidential be concerned, McClellan resigned from the crowd and spent several years anxiety Europe.

He would return private house the railroad business in 1872 as president of the Ocean and Great Western Railroad.

From 1878 to 1881, he served one term as the administrator of New Jersey. McClellan’s following years were spent writing well-ordered memoir called McClellan’s Own Story, which was published after realm 1885 death at the grab hold of 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