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George Brinton McClellan
1826-1885 |
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Brilliant Organizer and Strategist Is
Most Controversial Union General |
George Brinton McClellan was the most
controversial and least understood general of
the Civil War. Political enmity was largely his
undoing. He was a keen strategist and organizer,
which carried him to the highest Union rank. ■
However, he was a Democrat who disagreed with
the policies of President Lincoln and his
Republican cabinet and he quickly fell from
favor. Some historians consider McClellan a
genius. Others say he wasn’t fit to command. He
was graduated from West Point at 19 and spoke
several languages fluently. ■ McClellan was born
December 3, 1826, in Philadelphia, the son of a
physician. The McClellans were from Galloway in
southwest Scotland. They moved to Ulster before
James McClellan emigrated to New England in the
early 1700s. ■ George McClellan was cited for
distinguished service in the Mexican War and
returned to West Point to teach from 1848 to
1851. He also served as a Crimean War observer.
■ After the federal defeat at Bull Run, he was
made top commander of the Union armies. He
quickly whipped the defeated army into shape but
disagreed with Lincoln as to whether or not the
men were ready to take the offensive. He was
relieved of his command but stayed on to defeat
General Lee at Antietam. ■ McClellan was
nominated by the Democrats to oppose Lincoln in
1864. On election day he sailed for Europe and
stayed there for four years. On his return he
was elected governor of New Jersey and served as
President of the Great Western Railroad. ■ His
later years were spent traveling and writing. He
died suddenly at Orange, New Jersey, on October
29, 1885. It is interesting to note that he was
one of the group that founded the Illinois Saint
Andrew Society in Chicago in 1845.
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Wayne Rethford, President Emeritus
Illinois Saint Andrew Society
Scottish-American History Club
2800 Des Plaines Avenue
North Riverside, IL 60546
©2014 |
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