Union Officer: George B McClellan

George B McClellan was a officer for the Union in the civil war. McClellan was born on December 3rd,1826 and he was a very cocky and arrogant general. Here is a short biography of him. I will be telling you his life and his military career. As you can see McClellan was pretty young, he was only 59 years of age when he died. Again this will be shorter then the two Presidents.
McClellan was born in the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia. He was born into a wealthy family and he enter west point at 16. McClellan became a brevet second lieutenant in the Mexican War. McClellan proved to be a great military men and was eventually promoted to captain. After the Mexican war, He taught engineering at west point and then spent much of his time until the civil war in the west and in Europe to fight. After he returned from Europe, he retired to work in the booming railroad industry. McClellan went to college at 13 for law and then changed his mind to work for the military. He was very smart man and this would do him in the war but also ratted him out later on.
In 1861, McClellan took command over the Ohio Volunteers. He won in West Virginia earning him the promotion to Major General in the army. His first big battle in the civil war came after a union loss to the confederate in the first battle bulls run. McClellan was very cocky and arrogant and did not get along with the President Lincoln. The only reason Lincoln brought him in, was because he had reputation to be strict and was very good at training troops which the union desperately needed. McClellan underestimated the size of his army at the Manassas junction and then pushed on to the capital of Richmond. His army had about 270,000 men that was twice the size of the other army. He could have had a easy win, even with Lincoln pushing him he would not go. After Winfield Scott resigned, McClellan was promoted to general in chief of the federal forces. In 1862, January, President Lincoln give orders to move out and take the enemy head on. McClellan was so cocky and arrogant he did not move for another two months. He finally began to proceed with his Peninsular Campaign against Robert E Lee. McClellan won some battles but Lincoln could not stand him. He keep pulling back, and if you remember the Union want to win quick and so did the confederates. He was demoted from the position but no one could replace him with and so he became the general in chief once again. McClellan kept with his policy of slow moving tactics and when he could have just defeat Lee's army in a few quick battles.
Two of the greatest Generals met at the Antietam in September of 1862. More then 27,000 died that day in one of the bloodiest one day battles. McClellan could have once again finished Lee again. But due to his slow decision making, the confederates manage to escape before he could. Lincoln was still pushing to win the war quicky but McClellan just wouldn't budge. Eventually Lincoln forced him out for good. Mclellan enter politics as most generals do. He was a democratic Presidential candidate in the 1864 election. McClellan toured europe after his loss then was elected to be the governor of New Jersey. After being governor he work in the railroad industry and wrote book about his ventures in the civil war. George B McClellan died on October 29, 1885.
If YOU want to find out more about George B McClellan, then type his name in Google or visit a encyclopedia. I have used a book call The Everything Civil War Book to get most of the information.


Next: Confederate Officer Robert E Lee...
I will be doing 4 more officers, not including Lee. I will start doing Battle Breakdowns and then I will ask questions and answer them.