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George Brinton McClellan was an American military officer, politician, and engineer who served as the 24th governor of New Jersey from 1878 to 1881, as Commanding General of the United States Army from November 1861 to March 1862, and the unsuccessful Democratic Party candidate in the 1864 presidential election. He was also chief engineer and vice president of the Illinois Central Railroad, and la…
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politics · American major general (1826–1885) · military officer · designer · writer · army officer · governor · major general · politician · also George Brinton McClellan, George B. McClellan, George McClellan, General McClellan, Little Mac, The Young Napoleon
Born 3 December 1826 · Died 29 October 1885 · Q310192
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Pope will be thrashed ... & be disposed of [by Lee]. ... Such a villain as he is ought to bring defeat upon any cause that employs him.
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“He is an able general but a very cautious one. His army is in a very demoralized and chaotic condition, and will not be prepared for offensive operations—or he will not think it so—for three or four weeks. Before that time I hope to be on the Susquehanna.”
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“Pope will be thrashed ... & be disposed of [by Lee]. ... Such a villain as he is ought to bring defeat upon any cause that employs him.”
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“Genl Scott is the great obstacle—he will not comprehend the danger & is either a traitor, or an incompetent. I have to fight my way against him.”
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Encyclopaedia Britannica: Learn how Abraham Lincoln defeated George McClellan before ending the American Civil War
insider.si.edu: George Brinton McClellan
While visiting Mary at her home "Villa Antietam"
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Died 1885-10-29.
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Career landmark: Governor of New Jersey (1878–1881).
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Election won: 1877 election.
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When the New Jersey Democratic Party nominated him for governor, an action that took him by surprise because he had not expressed an interest in the position
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Campaign: 1877 election.
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Also served as the president of the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad
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McClellan Jr. (1865–1940), was born in Dresden in the Kingdom of Saxony during the family's first trip to Europe.
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Election won: 1864 presidential election.
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Campaign: 1864 presidential election.
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Was the single bloodiest day in American military history
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Lincoln named McClellan to command "the fortifications of Washington, and all the troops for the defense of the capital"
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Lincoln removed McClellan as general-in-chief, leaving him in command of only the Army of the Potomac, ostensibly so that McClellan would be free to devote all his attention to the move on Richmond
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McClellan was summoned to the White House, where the Cabinet demanded to hear his war plans
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Lincoln met with top generals (McClellan did not attend) and directed them to formulate a plan of attack, expressing his exasperation with General McClellan with the following remark: "If General McClellan does not want
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Winfield Scott retired and McClellan became general-in-chief of all the Union armies
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Lincoln summoned McClellan from western Virginia, where McClellan had given the North the only engagements bearing a semblance of victory
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“I will, if successful, throw my sword onto the scale to force an improvement in the condition of those poor blacks.”
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McClellan's daughter, Mary ("May") (1861–1945), married a French diplomat and spent much of her life abroad.
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McClellan's knowledge of what was called "big war science" and his railroad experience suggested he might excel at military logistics
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And, capitalizing on his experience with railroad assessment, became chief engineer and vice president of the Illinois Central Railroad, and then president of the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad in 1860
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Requested an assignment in Philadelphia to prepare his report, which contained a critical analysis of the siege and a lengthy description of the organization of the European armies
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But her family did not approve and he withdrew
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As part of the Delafield Commission, led by Richard Delafield
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Participated in the Pacific Railroad surveys, ordered by Secretary of War Jefferson Davis, to select an appropriate route for the planned transcontinental railroad
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And a bronze equestrian statue honoring General McClellan in Washington, D
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Second in his class of 59 cadets, losing the top position to Charles Seaforth Stewart only because of inferior drawing skills
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At the age of 15, with the academy waiving its usual minimum age of 16
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When he was 14 years old, resigning himself to the study of law after his family decided that medical educations for both McClellan and his older brother John were too expensive
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Born 1826-12-03.
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