On the 3rd of December, 1826, was born in Philadelphia, a child who
would one day become celebrated in the annals of history.
He enjoyed the privilege of a good education, graduating at the
University of Pennsylvania, and when twenty years old he also graduated
at West Point, ranking second in his class.
George B. McClellan was a brilliant scholar, and during the Mexican war
won high esteem as an engineer. After the war he was engaged in various
engineering projects, and rendered valuable service to the country by
introducing bayonet exercises into the military tactics at West Point,
and translating a French Manual of Bayonet Exercises, which was adapted
to the United States service, and became an authority. In 1855-'6 he was
a member of the Military Commission sent by the government to visit the
seat of the Crimean war.
He resigned his commission in the regular army in 1857; became chief
engineer of the Illinois Central Railroad, and in 1868 he also became
Vice-President of the road; two years later, President of St. Louis and
Cincinnati Railway. It is difficult to surmise what he might have become
as a railway magnate but for the civil war.
At the outbreak of hostilities he became the major-general of Ohio
volunteers, and by skillful generalship and bravery, succeeded in
driving the rebels out of West Virginia, which made him
commander-in-chief of the Army of the Potomac. General McClellan was
over-cautious, and lingered about Washington with about 200,000 men,
drilling and preparing for the battle. Succumbing to popular clamor he
moved out toward Richmond.
Then followed the Peninsula campaign, wherein McClellan was forced to
change his base, accomplishing one of the most masterly retreats in the
annals of history. Being relieved of the command by Pope, who also
failed, he was re-instated and fought the bloody battle of Antietam. In
this battle he foiled the Confederate project of invasion, but popular
clamor demanded his removal, as it was thought he followed up his
victory too leisurely. This virtually ended his military services, and
on November 8th, 1864, he resigned his commission. After his
unsuccessful canvass for the presidency he, with his family, sailed for
Europe, where he remained until 1868, when he returned to the United
States and took up his residence at Orange, New Jersey. Henceforth he
followed his profession as an engineer.
In 1877 he was elected Governor of New Jersey. On October 29th, 1885, he
died at his residence in New York city from the effects of heart
disease.
We do not propose to pose as a champion of McClellan's wrongs, real or
supposed, but in reviewing his life the following facts are worthy of
thought: He was in command at a time when the whole North were laboring
under a delusion as to the requirements of the war, and it is doubtful
if any general would have succeeded at this time. The fact that such an
able general as Hooker was relieved after one reverse, leads one to
wonder what might have been the fate of even Grant had he commanded at
this time. However, it is not for us to say, but certain it is, that no
greater military tactician was to be found among the generals of our
late war, and as such he deserves credit.