George McClellan is a name that, unfortunately, carries a lot of disappointment. He is known for his failures and lack of action than for his accomplishments.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, He graduated second in the West Point in 1846 and was commissioned as an officer in the US Army Corps of Engineers.
At the start of the Civil War, he was a civilian when the Governor of Ohio commissioned him, Major General of the Ohio militia, in April 1861.
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After the defeat of the Union forces at Bull Run in July 1861 and McClellan's success at the Battle of Philippi, President Abraham Lincoln made him the first commander of the Army of the Potomac responsible for Washington's defense.
He was made commander-in-chief of all US forces in November of that year. In the spring and summer of 1862, McClellan's failure to defeat the Confederates on the Peninsula Campaign added to the growing rift between him and the Lincoln administration.
In September, during the Maryland Campaign, he was ordered to drive Robert E. Lee's forces from Maryland. After the Battle of Antietam, Lee withdrew back to Virginia.
Due to growing divides between McClellan and the administration, he was relieved from command on November 8, 1862.
George McClellan's later years were marked by a number of different activities. After his defeat in the 1864 presidential election, he resigned from the Army and spent several years in Europe.
He then returned to the United States and worked in the railroad business. In 1878, he was elected Governor of New Jersey, a position he held for one term. In his later years, he also wrote a memoir called McClellan's Own Story.
McClellan died in Orange, New Jersey, on October 29, 1885.
He was buried in Trenton, New Jersey.
His legacy is somewhat complicated. He was an excellent administrator, and his organization of the Army of the Potomac was also done well. However, his cautiousness or political motivations seemed to get in the way.
Unlike Ulysses. S. Grant, who knew how to press his advantage, McClellan did not have the stomach for it and feared losing too many men.
His political motivations came forward when he ran against Abraham Lincoln and was beaten. He campaigned to end the war and recognize the Confederate States of America as an independent country.
Read Article: Famous Civil War Generals
Family Overview
George McClellan came from a wealthy family. His father was a doctor and was well known. He founded the Jefferson Medical Center in 1824 and headed it for 15 years. Today, it is one of the most prominent hospitals in Philadelphia.
His family had Scottish roots, and many of his family members traveled to Edinburgh.
George McClellan had three children, with two surviving into adulthood. His wife and daughter would live in France after his death.
His surviving son would become a politician and eventually the mayor of New York City.
George passed away suddenly, which seemed to be a common theme in his family, and his wife outlived him by 30 years.
Family Tree Chart
Parents:
George McClellan (1796 - 1847) - He became a doctor, and his son was given a life of privilege. He fathered six children and came from Scottish ancestry.
Elizabeth Sophia Brinton (1800 - 1889) - She married her husband in 1820 and would have six children. She outlived her husband by four years.
Spouse:
Mary Ellen Marcy (1835 - 1915) - She married and had 2 children. She was an influential person in her husband's life, and he corresponded with her throughout the Civil War. After her husband's sudden death, she relocated to France, where she died.
Children:
Walter Livingston McClellan (Unknown) - Died as an infant or was born as a stillborn. There is not much known about the circumstances. He would have been born prior to the Civil War.
Mary Marcy McClellan (1861 - 1945) - She lived and died in France. She married and had children, but there is not much known about her life.
George Brinton McClellan Jr. (1865 - 1940) - He was born after the Civil War while his parents were touring Europe. He graduated from the College of New Jersey (Princeton) in 1886, became a newspaper reporter for the New York Morning Journal, and then began his political career with his appointment as treasurer of New York and Brooklyn in 1889. He would eventually serve as the Mayor of New York City.
Siblings:
Frederica Sophia McClellan (1821 - 1899) - She outlived her famous brother and would have six children during her marriage.
John Hill Brinton McClellan (1823 - 1874) - He was not as well known as his brother but became a physician. He died suddenly in 1874 while in Scotland.
Mary Phillips McClellan (1832 - 1895) - She stayed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania her entire life. There is not much known about her life, and it is unclear if she married or had any children.
Elvira McClellan (1832 - 1879) - Twin sister to Mary. It is known that she did get married and had many children. She passed away suddenly when her youngest daughter was three years old.
Arthur S. McClellan (1839 - 1904) - He served under his brother at the beginning of the Civil War. After his brother was replaced, he served under other commanders. He ended the war with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.