Major Gen'l Geo. B. McClellan

[Hurdurburdur]

Here's my take on Major Gen'l Geo. B. McClellan (1861)

 

[67th Tigers]

Any of him when he was a 3 star? Before the Peninsula?

 

[NedBaldwin]

Any of him when he was a 3 star? Before the Peninsula?

When was he ever a 3 star?

 

[civilwarincolor]

Any of him when he was a 3 star? Before the Peninsula?

Little Mac never got to three. Only Grant.

 

[67th Tigers]

When was he ever a 3 star?

Little Mac never got to three. Only Grant.

1861 Regulations. The insignia of the Major-General commanding the United States Army is 3 stars. https://books.google.be/books?id=Xe4IAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA470#v=onepage&q&f=false

McClellan was the third US general to wear 3 stars, Halleck the 4th and Grant the 5th (with a pay rise vs the other two).

For example, here Halleck has 3 stars and buttons in groups of three as per an acting Lt Gen:

 

[Aussie Billy Sherman]

Good work

 

[civilwarincolor]

1861 Regulations. The insignia of the Major-General commanding the United States Army is 3 stars. https://books.google.be/books?id=Xe4IAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA470#v=onepage&q&f=false

McClellan was the third US general to wear 3 stars, Halleck the 4th and Grant the 5th (with a pay rise vs the other two).

For example, here Halleck has 3 stars and buttons in groups of three as per an acting Lt Gen:

Neither McClellan or Halleck was an acting Lt. General. McClellan would have been all over that. What you are referring to is the uniform of a Major General commanding the army of the United States. Halleck was STILL a Major General, but was permitted to wear 3 stars for a few years.

Here is a better image showing the stars more clearly. I am not aware of any similar pictures of McClellan with a 3 Star uniform.

Grant was the first person to be promoted to Lt. General (not Brevet or posthumous) and General as an actual rank. Following the war Sherman was promoted to General, but chose to only wear 2 stars. Different time.

 

[67th Tigers]

Grant was the first person to be promoted to Lt. General (not Brevet or posthumous) and General as an actual rank. Following the war Sherman was promoted to General, but chose to only wear 2 stars. Different time.

Brevet rank is real rank, but without an army position in that pay. Scott was really a Lt Gen, but since there were no Lt Gens on the US Army orgchart he only filled the Maj Gen slot (the only one). In 1861 with the appointment of several more Maj Gens the rank of Maj Gen commanding was created.

I'm interested as to whether McClellan ever wore the three stars he was entitled too. Given his humble character one suspects not, hence my search for an image of it.

 

[civilwarincolor]

Brevet rank is real rank, but without an army position in that pay. Scott was really a Lt Gen, but since there were no Lt Gens on the US Army orgchart he only filled the Maj Gen slot (the only one). In 1861 with the appointment of several more Maj Gens the rank of Maj Gen commanding was created.

I'm interested as to whether McClellan ever wore the three stars he was entitled too. Given his humble character one suspects not, hence my search for an image of it.

Never said that Brevet was not a real rank, juts saying that Gran was the first Lt. General that was not Brevet. In my opinion Brevet was common during the CW because there was not a medal award system (other than the MOH) to acknowledge individuals. The modern equivalent (which was common in WWII) was to give a rank such a "Acting Major General". They also played some games of people being in the "Army of the United States" with one rank an the "United States Army" with another.

 

[GELongstreet]

... Given his humble character ...

Ahm, well, what?

 

[Jamieva]

Brevet rank is real rank, but without an army position in that pay. Scott was really a Lt Gen, but since there were no Lt Gens on the US Army orgchart he only filled the Maj Gen slot (the only one). In 1861 with the appointment of several more Maj Gens the rank of Maj Gen commanding was created.

I'm interested as to whether McClellan ever wore the three stars he was entitled too. Given his humble character one suspects not, hence my search for an image of it.

I'm reading his memoir that he was working on when he died. He mentioned in a letter to his wife having to remove the 3rd star when he was removed as general in chief of the armies, so yes he did wear the 3 stars.

 

[67th Tigers]

I'm reading his memoir that he was working on when he died. He mentioned in a letter to his wife having to remove the 3rd star when he was removed as general in chief of the armies, so yes he did wear the 3 stars.

Thanks, mystery solved. Now to find a picture of it!

 

[67th Tigers]

Never said that Brevet was not a real rank, juts saying that Gran was the first Lt. General that was not Brevet. In my opinion Brevet was common during the CW because there was not a medal award system (other than the MOH) to acknowledge individuals. The modern equivalent (which was common in WWII) was to give a rank such a "Acting Major General". They also played some games of people being in the "Army of the United States" with one rank an the "United States Army" with another.

Ah, no.

Brevet is the in the army, but not in regiment or corps.

On regimental duty the regimental rank is what is important, but on any extra-regimental duty, including for example when regiments are brigaded together it is army rank that matters.

Supposing a bizarre situation develops where a regiments Lt Col has a brevet of Col senior to the Cols Commission. When the regiment is operating independently the regimental rank matters, but when brigaded is that Lt Cols brevet is senior to the other Cols then he jumps over them to command the brigade.

 

[Little Mac]

I'm interested as to whether McClellan ever wore the three stars he was entitled too. Given his humble character one suspects not, hence my search for an image of it.

Ahm, well, what?

Actually... 67th Tigers might have a point.
Here's a good illustration of humble character from Mac in the Mexican War:

"He (McClellan) was promoted to the rank of brevet first lieutenant, August 20, "for gallant and meritorious conduct in the battles of Contreras and Cherubusco," and brevet captain on September 13 for his services at Chapultepec. He was brevetted in addition for Molino del Rey on September 8, and the nomination was confirmed by Congress, but he declined the honor on the ground that he had not taken part in that battle, while this brevet "would also cause him to rank above his commanding officer—Lieut. G. W. Smith—who was present at every action where he was and commanded him." (Ms. letter from McClellan to General R. Jones, Adj. Gen. U. S. A., dated "Washington City, August 1848." McClellan Papers, Library of Congress, Vol. I.)" (source: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/68308/68308-h/68308-h.htm#FNanchor_55)

Humble and honest!
Per Jamieva's reply we know he did wear the three stars he was entitled to. Just thought I'd add this reference in here...