George B. McClellan- Greg Smithers Period:1

George B. McClellan was born on December 3, 1826 in Philadelphia. He attended the University of Pennsylvania for two years before going to Unit4ed States military academy, West Point. He graduated with high honors in July 1846 (second in his class) and from there was sent to aid in the Mexican war as an engineer. He fought battles under General Winfield Scott, helping to win countless battles against Mexico. After the Mexican War, McClellan went back to West Point and taught military engineering from 1848-1851. After his promotion in 1855 his mission was to study European armies, especially in the Crimean war. However war was not all McClellan was interested in. Shortly before resigning from the military in 1857, he invented a new saddle. He had a very original name for it: the McClellan. After he retired from the military he became the vice president Illinois railroad company and was the chief engineer. Only three years later he was appointed president of the Ohio and Mississippi river. While McClellan enjoyed his trains when the war broke out in 1861 he abandoned his successful job and joined the military again. At first he was given control of men from West Virginia. The men called him “Young Napoleon”, partially because of his minor victories but mainly because of his terrible people skills.

McClellan was a very careful man and that may be why he was not as successful as he could have been. Shortly after the First Battle of Bull Run, McClellan was given control of the Army of the Pontiac by Lincoln himself. His job was to protect the Unions capital and take care of the opposition in northern Virginia. However McClellan did not advance, complaining he did not have enough supplies or soldier. Finally in the spring of 1862 McClellan launched the Peninsula Campaign. The goal of the Peninsula Campaign was to take the Confederate’s capital city, Richmond, by working his way between the York and James rivers.  While McClellan won many battles during this Campaign he was forced to retreat after the Seven Day’s Battles. Lincoln was displeased with his work and removed him from command. McClellan went on to publicly criticize the president and the War Department. However, McClellan got another chance at the Second Battle of Bull Run. McClellan was successful at defeating the Confederates however he did not take the initiative of chasing after General Lee’s defeated army. Once again Lincoln was disappointed and removed McClellan from his position.  McClellan waited for another chance to prove himself but it did not come. Although he did emerge as a political figure for the Democrats. Supporting their idea of state rights he ran in the Election of 1864 but was defeated by Abraham Lincoln.

McClellan finished out his years traveling and writing his story about his military experiences in his book McClellan’s Own Story (1877). McClellan was an unsuccessful military leader because he failed to show and have the ability to fight even when the odds were against him. He was too cautious of a man to be a strong leader. However, McClellan’s engineering skills were extremely good and he had a very successful career in the railroad business until he passed away in 1885.



"George B. McClellan." NNDB: Tracking the Entire World. Web. 30 Nov. 2011. <http://www.nndb.com/people/287/000050137/>.


"George Brinton McClellan Biography." The American Civil War Home Page. Web. 30 Nov. 2011. <http://www.civilwarhome.com/macbio.htm>


"George B. McClellan." United States American History. Web. 30 Nov. 2011. <http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h116.html>.