McClellan, George Brinton

(December 3, 1826—October 29, 1885), a noted American general, was born at Philadelphia, educated at the University of Pennsylvania and at West Point, where he was graduated in 1846. His service in the Mexican War was followed by duty as instructor in the Military Academy. He was sent to Europe as an expert to follow the course of the Crime an War, and published as a result ‘‘ The Armies of Europe.’’ For a few years he was engineer for the Illinois Central Railroad, and a railroad president. Appointed major-general, and intrusted with command in West Virginia at the beginning of the Civil War, he broke up Garnett’s army, and was summoned to Washington after the Bull Run catastrophe. In August, 1861, he became commander of the Army of the Potomac, and in November he succeeded General Scott as commander-in-chief. McClellan’s services in organizing the army were invaluable. Exce of caution and friction between the Washington authorities and himself led to disappointments in his achievements against the enemy. He commanded through the Peninsula campaign, executing his famous ‘‘change of base,’’ was relieved of the command, reappointed September 7, 1862, after Pope’s disasters, and commanded in the Antietam campaign. On November 7 he was removed and placed on waiting orders. He resigned from the army in 1864, and was the same year the Democratic candidate for President, receiving twenty-one electoral votes. He was Governor of New Jersey 1878-1881. ‘‘ Little Mac’’ was phenomenally popular with the soldiers of the Army of the Potomac in spite of outside criticism. } McClelland, Robert (1807-1880), represented Michigan in the U. S. Congre as a Democrat from 1843 to 1849. He was Governor of Michigan from 1852 to 1853. He was Secretary of the Interior in Pierce’s Cabinet from 1853 to 1857. 420