Blogs by Karen Palumbo
On This Day 12/3/1826
11/29/2009 5:36:08 PM
Union General George McClellan is born....
Union General George McClellan is born in Philadelphia. Although General McClellan emerged early in the "Civil War" as a Union hero, he failed to effectively prosecute the "Civil War" in the East. General McClellan graduated from West Point, New York in 1846, second in his class.
General McClellan served with distinction in the "Mexican American War" under General Winfield Scott, and continued in the military until 1857. After retiring from service, General McClellan served as president of the Illinois Central Railroad, where he became acquainted with President Abraham Lincoln, who was then an attorney for the company.
When the "Civil War" began, General McClellan was appointed Major General in chrge of the Ohio volunteers. In 1861, General McClellan commanded Union troops in western Virginia, where his reputation grew as the Union troops won many small battles and secured control of the region.
Although many historians have argued that it was General McClellan's subordinates who deserved most of the credit, General McClellan was elevated to commander of the main Union Army in the East, the "Army of the Potomac", following that Army's humiliating defeat at the "First Battle of Bull Run".
General McClellan took command in July 1861, and did an admirable job of building an effective force. General McClellan was elevated to General-in-Chief of all Union Armies when his commander during the "Mexican American War", Winfield Scott, retired at the end of October, .
General McClellan was beloved by his soldiers but was arrogant and contemptuous of President Lincoln and the Republican leaders in Congress. A staunch Democrat, General McClellan was opposed to attacking the institution of slavery as a war measure.
While his work as an administrator earned high marks, his weakness was revealed when he took the field with his Army in the spring of 1862. General McClellan lost to Confederate General Robert E. (Edward) Lee during the "Seven Days Battles" and as a field commander General McClellan was sluggish, hesitant, and timid.
President Lincoln then moved most of General McClellan's command to General John Pope, but General Pope was beaten badly by General Lee at the "Second Battle of Bull Run".
When General Lee invaded Maryland in September, 1862, President Lincoln restored General McClellan's command. Though President Lincoln had grave misgivings about General McClellan's leadership, he wrote during the emergency that:
"we must use the tools we have,
There is no man in the Army who
can man these fortifications
and lick these troops into
shape as well as he."
General McClellan pursued General Lee into western Maryland, and on September 17th the "Army of the Potomac" and the "Army of Northern Virginia" fought to a standstill along Antietam Creek. Heavy loses forced General Lee to return to Virginia providing General McClellan with a nominal victory.
Shortly after the battle, President Lincoln declared the "Emancipation Proclamation" which converted the "Civil War" into a crusade against slavery. A measure bitterly criticized by General McClellan.
General McClellan's failure to pursue General Lee into Virginia led President Lincoln to order General McClellan's permanent removal in November. The Democrats nominated General McClellan for PResident in 1864. General McClellan ran against his old boss, President Lincoln, but managed to garner on twenty-one of the two hundred thirty-three electoral votes.
After the "Civil War", General McClellan served as Governor of New Jersey. General McClellan died on October 29, 1885 in Orange, New Jersey.
(K) (HST)
George McClellan Union General
Winfield Scott Union General
Abraham Lincoln President, USA
Robert E. (Edward) Lee Confederate General
John Pope Union General
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November 2009 Blogs
• On This Day 12/3/1826 - Sunday, November 29, 2009
• On This Day 12/2/1864 - Sunday, November 29, 2009
• On This Day 12/1/1862 - Sunday, November 29, 2009
• On This Day 11/30/1864 - Sunday, November 22, 2009
• On This Day 11/29/1864 - Sunday, November 22, 2009
• On This Day 11/28/1862 - Sunday, November 22, 2009
• On This Day 11/27/1863 - Saturday, November 21, 2009
• On This Day 11/26/1863 - Saturday, November 21, 2009
• On This Day 11/25/1863 - Saturday, November 21, 2009
• On This Day 11/24/1863 - Thursday, November 19, 2009
• On This Day 11/23/1819 - Thursday, November 19, 2009
• On This Day 11/22/1864 - Thursday, November 19, 2009
• On This Day 11/21/1861 - Wednesday, November 18, 2009
• On This Day 11/20/1864 - Wednesday, November 18, 2009
• On This Day 11/19/1863 - Wednesday, November 18, 2009
• On This Day 11/18/1863 - Tuesday, November 17, 2009
• On This Day 11/17/1863 - Tuesday, November 17, 2009
• On This Day 11/16/1863 - Tuesday, November 17, 2009
• On This Day 11/15/1864 - Monday, November 16, 2009
• On This Day 11/14/1862 - Monday, November 16, 2009
• On ThisDay 11/13/1861 - Monday, November 16, 2009
• On This Day 11/12/1864 - Sunday, November 15, 2009
• On This Day 11/11/1811 - Sunday, November 15, 2009
• On This Day 11/10/1865 - Sunday, November 15, 2009
• On This Day 11/9/1862 - Tuesday, November 10, 2009
• On This Day 11/8/1864 - Tuesday, November 10, 2009
• On This Day 11/7/1861 - Tuesday, November 10, 2009
• On This Day 11/6/1861 - Monday, November 09, 2009
• On This Day 11/5/1862 - Monday, November 09, 2009
• On This Day 11/4/1864 - Monday, November 09, 2009
• On This Day 11/3/1816 - Thursday, November 05, 2009
• On This Day 11/2/1861 - Thursday, November 05, 2009
• On This Day 11/1/1861 - Thursday, November 05, 2009
• On This Day 10/31/1861 - Wednesday, November 04, 2009
• On This Day 10/30/1862 - Wednesday, November 04, 2009
• On This Day 10/29/1863 - Wednesday, November 04, 2009
• On This Day 10/28/1864 - Tuesday, November 03, 2009
• On This Day 10/27/1864 - Tuesday, November 03, 2009
• On This Day 10/26/1864 - Tuesday, November 03, 2009
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