MCCLELLAN, GEORGE BRINTON
\mə klˈɛlən], \mə klˈɛlən], \m_ə k_l_ˈɛ_l_ə_n]\
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(December 3, 1826-October 29, 1885), a noted American general, was born at Philadelphia, educated at the University of Pennsylvania and at West Point, where he was graduated in 1846. His service in the Mexican War was followed by duty as instructor in the Military Academy. He was sent to Europe as an expert to follow the course of the Crimean War, and published as a result, "The Armies of Europe." For a few years he was engineer for the Illinois Central Railroad, and a railroad president. Appointed major-general, and entrusted with command in West Virginia at the beginning of the Civil War he broke up Garnett's army, and was summoned to Washington after the Bull Run catastrophe. In August, 1861, he became commander of the Army of the Potomac, and in November he succeeded General Scott as commander-in-chief. McClellan's services in organizing the army were invaluable. Excess of caution and friction between the Washington authorities and himself led to disappointments in his achievements against the enemy. He commanded through the Peninsula campaign, executing his famous "change of base," was relieved of the command, reappointed September 7, 1862, after Pope's disasters, and commanded in the Antietam campaign. On November 7 he was removed and placed on waiting orders. He resigned from the army in 1864, and was the same year the Democratic candidate for President, receiving twenty-one electoral votes. He was Governor of New Jersey 1878-1881. "Little Mac" was phenomenally popular with the soldiers of the Army of the Potomac in spite of outside criticism. See "McClellan's Own Story" for his defence.
By John Franklin Jameson
Word of the day
hydromorphic
- [Greek] Structurally adapted to an aquatic environment, as organs of water plants.