General McClellan's Early Life......... His Services in Mexico-His subsequent Military Career............... Important Missions entrusted to him.... Is sent to Europe-Report of his Observations in the Crimea-Re- signs the Service and becomes a Railroad President...................... "Little Mac" appointed Major-General-Assumes command of the Department of Ohio.......... Address to the People of Western Virginia......... Address to the Volunteer Army-The Fight at Philippi-He takes Assumes command in Western Virginia-Proclamation to the Inhab- itants of Western Virginia.......... Proclamation to the Soldiers of the Army of the West..... The Battle of Rich Mountain-Destroys the Rebel Army-Corres- pondence, Despatches, and Reports in relation to it.......... Address to the Soldiers of the Army of the West, at Beverly, Va..... Washington City after Bull Run..... He is ordered to Washington-Enthusiastic Reception in Philadel- Takes command in Washington-His Plans and first Order.......................... Takes command of the Army of the Potomac................................ Ball's Bluff............................... Retirement of General Scott-"Little Mac" succeeds him in com- mand of the Army-His Order..... Presentation of a Sword by the City of Philadelphia..................... Military Movements projected.............................. Why General McClellan was interfered with-A short Retrospect.... The Peninsular Campaign-Correspondence between General McClel- The Battle of Williamsburg....... Thanks of Congress-Excitement in Richmond....... Reinforcements urged-Despatches on the subject to Secretary Stan- ton and the President Position of the Corps-Severe Skirmishing.. Orders for crossing the Chickahominy.... Battle of Fair Oaks........................... .................. ............ Address to the Army-Further Despatches to the President and The Seven Days Battles-Despatches and Official Reports of General -Battle of Nelson's Farm or Glendale-General McCall's Re- His Address to the Army, July 4th, 1862, at Harrison's Landing...... 101 Letter to the President from Harrison's Landing, with his replies..... 102 General McClellan gives the President his views on the conduct of Evacuation of Harrison's Landing... The Services of the Army of the Potomac......... General McClellan at Alexandria-Despatches to General Halleck, and to the President, with their replies..... "Little Mac" is requested to use his influence with the Army, and his What History will say of General McClellan.. The end of the Pope Campaign-"Little Mac" again in command... 127 The Battles of Crampton's Gap and South Mountain-Gen. McClel- lan's Official Report, including despatches to General Franklin General McClellan is ordered to cross the Potomac... Stuart's Rebel Raid-Scarcity of Army Supplies, Horses, and Cloth- ing-Report of Colonel Ingalls, Chief Quartermaster, on the Correspondence with General Halleck, and his reply... A convincing response to General Halleck....... General McClellan asks the General-in-Chief how the Upper Potomac "Little Mac" is relieved from command, and ordered to report at He bids adieu to his Officers and Soldiers, and leaves for Trenton- General McClellan's Official Report to the War Department of Ovations tendered to General McClellan at the North........................ Rumors of his return to command, and its effect on the soldiers at An impartial opinion of the services of General McClellan, written by one of the best and most able Military writers in the country General McClellan's latest Speech, February 18th, 1864, on the occa- sion of the official reception given by the city of New York, to the veterans of the First New York Cavalry, on their return to that city-Speech of Colonel McReynolds-Speech of Major Hawkins-General McClellan speaks again, etc.......... 191 LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES OF GENERAL GEORGE B. McCLELLAN. It is difficult to write, satisfactorily, the life of any living general. The task is increased in the case of George B. McClellan, because of the diversity of opinion as to his abilities. By some persons he is considered the greatest strategist of the age. By others he is regarded. as unfit to command even a hundred men. On two points, however, nearly all are agreed. His capacity for organization, his faculty for creating an efficient army, few now deny. The love with which he inspires his soldiers, and which seems to have in it something of personal magnetism, is, to say the least, remarkable. We shall endeavor to tell the story of his life impartially, relying almost entirely on official documents for authority. Let us see, whether, with such a purpose before us, we cannot unravel many apparent contradictions. HIS EARLY LIFE. General McClellan was born in the city of Philadelphia, on the third day of December, 1826. His father, Dr. George McClellan, was a distinguished physician and surgeon, and was for a long time one of the Professors in the Jefferson Medical College in that city. The son, for a brief period, was a student at the University of Pennsylvania, which venerable institution he left at the age of sixteen, to enter West Point. He graduated in 1846, second in his class, and July first, of that year, entered the army as Brevet Second-Lieutenant of Engineers. 19 HIS SERVICES IN MEXICO. He was ordered to Mexico immediately thereafter, where, as Lieutenant of Sappers, Miners and Pontoniers, he performed valuable service, and for the first time was afforded the opportunity of displaying upon the field of battle those military talents which have since made him so esteemed. For gallantry at Vera Cruz, where he was attached to General Worth's Division, he was highly commended in official reports; at Cerro Gordo, and the city of Mexico, he was connected with General Twiggs's Division, and was specially commended for gallant conduct; at Contreras and Cherubusco he won the brevet of First-Lieutenant, and at Molino del Rey was offered the additional brevet of Captain, which he declined. The offer, however, being subsequently tendered for "gallant and meritorious conduct at Chepultepec," was accepted, and in May, 1848, he assumed command of the company, in which he had previously been a subordinate officer. Among other incidents which occurred during his service in Mexico is one which created no little amusement at the time. When about twelve miles from Puebla, the young Lieutenant was out reconnoitering unattended, when he observed a tall Engineer officer of the Mexican army near by. The discovery was, however, not made a moment too soon, as the Mexican had espied the Lieutenant and was advancing towards him. A mutual demand for surrender was made, and a hand-to-hand scuffle commenced, resulting in McClellan collaring his more gigantic opponent, and taking him into camp. HIS SUBSEQUENT MILITARY CAREER. After the declaration of peace, he was ordered to West Point as director of field labors and instructor of the bayonet exercise. While thus employed at the Academy, he translated from the French a "Manual of Bayonet Exercise," which became the text-book of the service. In 1851 he was ordered to Fort Delaware to superintend its construction, and the following year he accompanied Capt. R. B. Marcy (now his father-in-law) on an expedition to explore the Red river. In September of the same year he was assigned to accompany General Persifer F. Smith to Texas, as Senior Engineer to survey the rivers and harbors of that State. In the following spring he was ordered to report to Governor Isaac I. Stevens, of Washington Territory, who had been placed in charge of the survey of a Northern route for a railroad to the Pacific, and was subsequently detailed by that officer for the examination of the Western part of the proposed line. Starting from Steilacoom, he explored the Yakima pass and other portions of the Cascade range, and the most direct route to Puget Sound, and the report of his observations, written in a highly interesting style, formed the first volume of the "Pacific Railroad Surveys." He was subsequently complimented by the Secretary of War for the superior manner in which he had performed the important duty. IMPORTANT MISSIONS ENTRUSTED TO HIM. Soon afterwards he was detailed to visit the principal lines of railway in the United States, and to thoroughly investigate the railroad system of the country, with a view of obtaining such information relative to construction, equipment and management as might be of service in the successful operation of the Pacific railroad. A full report of his investigations was published in November, 1854. A secret mission to the West Indies was the next important duty entrusted to him by the Government. Leaving the United States in the frigate Columbia, he proceeded to San Domingo, and from there to some of the other islands, returning with a vas: amount of information important at the time to the administration, and a large |
