The Military Career of George B. McClellan

George Brinton McClellan (December 3, 1826 - October 29, 1885) was a major general, and briefly the general - in - chief of the Union Army, during the American Civil War. (Ranger Notebook) George McClellan was a native of Philadelphia and attended the University of Pennsylvania. In 1846 he graduated second in his class from West Point. McClellan served with distinction under Winfield Scott in the Mexican War. He was a Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers constructing roads and bridges for the marching army. From 1848 to 1851 he taught military engineering at West Point. Following that assignment, he spent several years surveying routes for railroads, most significantly the path of the Northern Pacific across the Cascades. ( The Readers Companion to American History)

In 1855-56, McClellan was on assignment in the Crimea to study European warfare and submitted an exhaustive report on the siege of Sebastopol. At this time, he also designed the "McClellan saddle" by modifying European models; this saddle remained in use by American forces until the cavalry was disbanded. ( Ranger Notebook )

McClellan resigned from the service in 1857 and became the head of engineering for the Illinois Central Railroad, an organization represented by attorney Abraham Lincoln. In 1860, McClellan was appointed president of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad. ( US History. com )

According to Thomas Rowland in George B. McClellan and Civil War History: In the Shadow of Grant and Sherman Following the outbreak of hostilities in 1861, McClellan reentered the service and was given command of federal forces in western Virginia. His first assignment was to occupy the area of western Virginia, which later became West Virginia, and wanted to remain in the Union. He was successful in defeating two small Confederate armies in 1861 and became famous throughout the country. (Rowland)

Following the First Battle of Bull Run, McClellan was given command of the eastern federal forces, soldiers that would become the Army of the Potomac. His assignment was to protect the nation's capital from Confederate attack and destroy the opposition forces in northern Virginia. McClellan's efforts transformed the army, restoring discipline and morale. He failed, however, to engage the enemy, pleading instead for more soldiers, time and supplies. Lincoln grew tired of the delays and issued an order for the army to advance. McClellan balked and was able to convince the President that further delay was necessary. (US History .com)

In the spring of 1862, McClellan finally launched the "Peninsular Campaign," an effort to take the Confederate capital of Richmond by advancing up the peninsula between the York and James rivers. McClellan's forces won more battles than they lost, but were forced to retreat after the Seven Days' Battles. The objectives of taking Richmond and destroying the northern Confederate army were not achieved. Lincoln was displeased; McClellan responded by publicly criticizing the president and the War Department. The press, which had been clamoring for action, branded the general as "Mac the Unready." (George Brinton McClellan Biography)

McClellan generally had very good relations with his troops. They referred to him affectionately as "Little Mac"; others sometimes called him the "Young Napoleon". It has been suggested that his reluctance to enter battle was caused in part by an insistent desire to spare his men, to the point of failing to take the initiative against the enemy and therefore passing up good opportunities for decisive