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George Brinton McClellan may not have been physically present during the Gettysburg campaign, but the following excerpts illustrate that he was certainly there in spirit, at least for a considerable number of Union soldiers, especially in the Second and Fifth Corps. Some of them even died on that field believing McClellan was back commanding the Army of the Potomac. It appears McClellan could honestly have claimed a small share of credit for the Union victory.
Captain George Lockley, Company A, 1st Michigan, Fifth Corps (diary): June 16, McClellan in command again, glad to hear it. … Night of July 1, a report was announced to the regiment that McClellan was in command and with the Army of the Potomac. Received with cheers by everybody.
Corporal Manley Stacey, Company D, 111th New York, Second Corps (letters): June 28, tonight it is reported that McClellan has got command of the army again, the old troops are cheering a great deal over it. … July 2, it is reported that McClellan is coming up with 50,000 militia, in the rear, if this is so, we may bag them.
Chaplain Ezra A. Simons, A Regimental History, 125th New York, Second Corps: When halted on the night of July 1 (about three miles south of Gettysburg), some of us learned for the first time of the new change in army commanders. A strange report was circulating that General McClellan was again at the head of the army.
O. S. Barrett, Old 4th Michigan Infantry, Fifth Corps: Night of July 1 … an aide-de-camp came riding along, saying "Boys, keep good courage, McClellan is in command of the army, again." Instantly the space above was filled with the hats and caps of gratified soldiers. They shouted and hollered, and kicked up their heels, and were frisky with the supposed good news. … I knew this was untrue, myself, but it served its purpose, as intended. Many a brave heart went down the next day with that belief in his heart.
Sergeant John R. Garden, 62nd Pennsylvania, Fifth Corps (diary): July 1 there is a rumor of McClellan driving the enemy … appointed commander … of the army … our boys cheering … news of McClellan.
Captain William J. Patterson, dedication of the monument to the 62nd Pennsylvania, September 11, 1889, Pennsylvania at Gettysburg, Fifth Corps: On the night march to Gettysburg word was passed along the line that General McClellan was again in command and awaited the arrival of his old battalions at Gettysburg. This announcement caused unbounded enthusiasm, and to that extent contributed the victory that followed.
Robert N. Martin, Company M, 62nd Pennsylvania, Fifth Corps (letter): (Night of July 1) cheering for Little Mac all the way.
Corporal Timothy J. Regan, 9th Massachusetts, Fifth Corps (diary): Night of July 1 … they tell us that McClellan is to take command of the Army of the Potomac in the morning, and that he is coming with a reinforcement of 75,000 militia, and the men are delighted at the prospect of serving under their old commander.
Lieutenant Anthony W. McDermott, 69th Pennsylvania, Second Corps: Before sunset on July 2, General Webb had informed us that if we would hold our position until 4 o'clock on the following afternoon, General McClellan would be in the rear of the rebels with 30,000 troops, and their defeat would be easily accomplished. (Bachelder Papers, 3:1408)
Lieutenant G. W. LaPoint, 7th Michigan, Second Corps: July 3, after our line had been forced back on the hill and all was confusion, and all the troops of different regiments were mingled in one mass, some staff officer came riding through the ranks and said, "For God's sake, men, hold the line a few moments longer. General McClellan is within short distance with fifty thousand militia, and upon that, all seemed to join in spreading the news, and the whole line made for the front again, forcing back the enemy …" (Bachelder Papers, 2: 880)
Confederate Colonel Birkett D. Fry, captured on July 3 while commanding Archer's brigade: In answer to my inquiry as to who was in command of their army, several officers (probably of the Second Corps) assured me that it was General McClellan; and on hearing some loud cheering at another part of the line, one of them remarked that the men must have caught sight of "Little Mac." They evidently believed then that he was on the field. (Bachelder Papers, 1:520)
Others were not immediately aware of who commanded their army. General History of Company D, 149th Pennsylvania, First Corps: First learned of (Meade's being in charge) when he rode down the line to cheers following the Confederate repulse on July 3.
Captain George Lockley, Company A, 1st Michigan, Fifth Corps (diary): June 16, McClellan in command again, glad to hear it. … Night of July 1, a report was announced to the regiment that McClellan was in command and with the Army of the Potomac. Received with cheers by everybody.
Corporal Manley Stacey, Company D, 111th New York, Second Corps (letters): June 28, tonight it is reported that McClellan has got command of the army again, the old troops are cheering a great deal over it. … July 2, it is reported that McClellan is coming up with 50,000 militia, in the rear, if this is so, we may bag them.
Chaplain Ezra A. Simons, A Regimental History, 125th New York, Second Corps: When halted on the night of July 1 (about three miles south of Gettysburg), some of us learned for the first time of the new change in army commanders. A strange report was circulating that General McClellan was again at the head of the army.
O. S. Barrett, Old 4th Michigan Infantry, Fifth Corps: Night of July 1 … an aide-de-camp came riding along, saying "Boys, keep good courage, McClellan is in command of the army, again." Instantly the space above was filled with the hats and caps of gratified soldiers. They shouted and hollered, and kicked up their heels, and were frisky with the supposed good news. … I knew this was untrue, myself, but it served its purpose, as intended. Many a brave heart went down the next day with that belief in his heart.
Sergeant John R. Garden, 62nd Pennsylvania, Fifth Corps (diary): July 1 there is a rumor of McClellan driving the enemy … appointed commander … of the army … our boys cheering … news of McClellan.
Captain William J. Patterson, dedication of the monument to the 62nd Pennsylvania, September 11, 1889, Pennsylvania at Gettysburg, Fifth Corps: On the night march to Gettysburg word was passed along the line that General McClellan was again in command and awaited the arrival of his old battalions at Gettysburg. This announcement caused unbounded enthusiasm, and to that extent contributed the victory that followed.
Robert N. Martin, Company M, 62nd Pennsylvania, Fifth Corps (letter): (Night of July 1) cheering for Little Mac all the way.
Corporal Timothy J. Regan, 9th Massachusetts, Fifth Corps (diary): Night of July 1 … they tell us that McClellan is to take command of the Army of the Potomac in the morning, and that he is coming with a reinforcement of 75,000 militia, and the men are delighted at the prospect of serving under their old commander.
Lieutenant Anthony W. McDermott, 69th Pennsylvania, Second Corps: Before sunset on July 2, General Webb had informed us that if we would hold our position until 4 o'clock on the following afternoon, General McClellan would be in the rear of the rebels with 30,000 troops, and their defeat would be easily accomplished. (Bachelder Papers, 3:1408)
Lieutenant G. W. LaPoint, 7th Michigan, Second Corps: July 3, after our line had been forced back on the hill and all was confusion, and all the troops of different regiments were mingled in one mass, some staff officer came riding through the ranks and said, "For God's sake, men, hold the line a few moments longer. General McClellan is within short distance with fifty thousand militia, and upon that, all seemed to join in spreading the news, and the whole line made for the front again, forcing back the enemy …" (Bachelder Papers, 2: 880)
Confederate Colonel Birkett D. Fry, captured on July 3 while commanding Archer's brigade: In answer to my inquiry as to who was in command of their army, several officers (probably of the Second Corps) assured me that it was General McClellan; and on hearing some loud cheering at another part of the line, one of them remarked that the men must have caught sight of "Little Mac." They evidently believed then that he was on the field. (Bachelder Papers, 1:520)
Others were not immediately aware of who commanded their army. General History of Company D, 149th Pennsylvania, First Corps: First learned of (Meade's being in charge) when he rode down the line to cheers following the Confederate repulse on July 3.
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