McClellan, George B. (George Brinton), 1826-1885
Name Entries
person
McClellan, George B. (George Brinton), 1826-1885
Computed Name Heading
Name Components
Surname :
McClellan
Forename :
George B.
NameExpansion :
George Brinton
Date :
1826-1885
eng
Latn
authorizedForm
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Exist Dates
Biographical History
George Brinton McClellan (December 3, 1826 – October 29, 1885) was an American soldier, 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 work on railroads until the outbreak of the American Civil War (1861–1865). Early in the conflict, McClellan was appointed to the rank of major general and played an important role in raising a well-trained and organized army, which would become the Army of the Potomac in the Eastern Theater; he served a brief period (November 1861 to March 1862) as general-in-chief of the Union Army.
McClellan organized and led the Union army in the Peninsula Campaign in southeastern Virginia from March through July 1862. It was the first large-scale offensive in the Eastern Theater. Making an amphibious clockwise turning movement around the Confederate Army in northern Virginia, McClellan's forces turned west to move up the Virginia Peninsula, between the James and York Rivers, landing from the Chesapeake Bay, with the Confederate capital, Richmond, as their objective. 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 partial Union defeat. However, historians note that Lee's victory was in many ways pyrrhic as he failed to destroy the Army of the Potomac and suffered a bloody repulse at Malvern Hill.
General McClellan and President Abraham Lincoln developed a mutual distrust, and McClellan was privately derisive of his commander-in-chief. McClellan was removed from command in November in the aftermath of the 1862 midterm elections. A major contributing factor in this decision was McClellan's failure to actively pursue Lee's Army following the tactically inconclusive but strategic Union victory at the Battle of Antietam outside Sharpsburg, Maryland. McClellan never received another field command and went on to become the unsuccessful Democratic Party nominee in the 1864 presidential election against the Republican Lincoln's reelection. The effectiveness of his campaign was damaged when he repudiated his party's platform, which promised an end to the war and negotiations with the southern Confederacy. 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.
Most historians have judged that McClellan was a poor battlefield general. In recent decades, however, this view has been challenged by some historians.
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External Related CPF
https://id.loc.gov/authorities/n50014834
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/10582739
https://viaf.org/viaf/5231446
https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q310192
https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n50014834
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/2765/george-brinton-mcclellan
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Languages Used
eng
Latn
Subjects
Aeronautics
Antietam, Battle of, Md., 1862
Broadsides
Campaign paraphernalia
Chapultepec, Battle of, Mexico City, Mexico, 1847
Civil war
Civil War, 1861-1865
Contraband of war
Contreras, Battle of, 1847
Crimean War, 1853-1856
Democratic Party
Elections
Elections
Gaines' Mill, Battle of, Va., 1862
Generals
Generals
Generals
Generals
Indians of North America
Malvern Hill, Battle of, Va., 1862
Manuscript maps
Military maps
Maryland Campaign, 1862
Mexican War, 1846-1848
Military architecture
Military geography
Monterrey, Battle of, Monterrey, Mexico, 1846
Oregon
Pacific railroads
Peninsula Campaign, 1862
President
Presidential campaigns
Presidential candidates
Real property
Railroad companies
Railroads
Railroads
Railroads
Recruiting and enlistment
Rich Mountain, Battle of, W. Va., 1861
Seven Days' Battles, Va., 1862
Slavery, abolition, and emancipation
South Mountain, Battle of, Md., 1862
Nationalities
Americans
Activities
Occupations
Army officers
Authors
Engineers
Executives
Generals
Governors
Politicians
Railroad engineers
Soldiers
Surveyors
Legal Statuses
Places
New York City
NY, US
AssociatedPlace
Residence
George B. McClellan worked on engineering project for the Docks of New York City and Railroads.
Russian Federation
00, RU
AssociatedPlace
Residence
George B. McClellan was a military observer during the Crimean War.
Dominican Republic
00, DO
AssociatedPlace
Residence
George B. McClellan did a reconnaissance of what was then Santo Domingo.
Philadelphia
PA, US
AssociatedPlace
Birth
George B. McClellan was born on December 3, 1826.
District of Columbia
DC, US
AssociatedPlace
Residence
George B. McClellan would be General-in-chief of the Union Army which was Headquartered in Washington, DC.
Fort Delaware (historical)
DE, US
AssociatedPlace
Residence
George B. McClellan was stationed at Fort Delaware for its construction.
West Point
NY, US
AssociatedPlace
Residence
George B. McClellan graduated from the US Military Academy in the Class of 1846.
Central Washington Hospital
WA, US
AssociatedPlace
Residence
George B. McClellan did survey missions for future railroad routes.
Orange
NJ, US
AssociatedPlace
Death
George B. McClellan died on October 29, 1885.
Fort Smith
AR, US
AssociatedPlace
Residence
George B. McClellan was second in command of Fort Smith.
Maryland
MD, US
AssociatedPlace
Residence
George B. McClellan served a portion of his Civil War Service and would be relieved of his command in Maryland.
Virginia
VA, US
AssociatedPlace
Residence
George B. McClellan served a large portion of his Civil War Service in Virginia.
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