★ McCall, George A.

George Archibald McCall​

Born: March 16, 1802

Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Father: Archibald McCall 1767 – 1843

(Buried: Christ Church Burial Ground, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)​

Mother: Elizabeth Cadwalader

Wife: Elizabeth McMurtie 1829 – 1903

(Buried: Christ Church Burial Ground, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)​

Children:

George McCall 1858 – 1938​

(Buried: Saint Peter's Episcopal Churchyard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)​

Education:

1822: Graduated from West Point Military Academy – (26th​ in class)​

Occupation before War:

1822: 2nd​ Lt. United States Army, 1st​ Infantry Regiment​

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1822 – 1829: 2nd​ Lt. United States Army, 4th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1829 – 1836: 1st​ Lt. United States Army, 4th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1831 – 1836: Aide to Brevet Major General Gaines​

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1836 – 1847: Captain, United States Army, 4th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1846: Brevetted Major for Gallantry in Two Mexican War Battles​

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1846: Brevetted Lt. Colonel for Gallantry in Two Mexican War Battles​

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1846 – 1847: Chief of Staff on Major General Patterson's Staff​

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1847 – 1850: Major, United States Army, 3rd​ Infantry Regiment​

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1850 – 1853: Colonel, United States Army, Inspector General Officer​

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1850: Inspection Tour for the U.S. Army Department of New Mexico​

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1850 – 1851: Inspector General Duty in Washington, D.C.​

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1852: Inspection Duty in California and Oregon​

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1853: Resigned from United States Army on April 29th​​

Civil War Career:

1861: Major General of Pennsylvania State Volunteers​

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1861 – 1863: Brigadier General, Union Army Volunteers​

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1861: Served in the fighting at Dranesville, Virginia​

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1862: Served in the Battle of Mechanicsville, Virginia​

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1862: Served in the Battle of Gaines Mill, Virginia​

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1862: Captured at the Battle of New Market Cross Roads​

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1862: Prisoner of War held at Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia​

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1863: Resigned from the Union Army on March 31st​​

Occupation after War:

1863 – 1868: Farmer near West Chester, Pennsylvania​

Died: February 25, 1868

Place of Death: West Chester, Pennsylvania

Cause of Death: Apoplexy

Age at time of Death: 65 years old

Burial Place: Christ Church Burial Ground, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 

[Pollaco]

When the State of Pennsylvannia was called upon for volunteers , it more than met it's quota. 12 regiments of infantry plus a "battalion" were organinzed into a Reserve Corps and headed by George A. McCall.The reserves were accepted into federal service in July 1861.

 

[Pollaco]

His exchange after being captured was for Simon Buckner on Aug. 18, 1862.

 

[Belfoured]

His exchange after being captured was for Simon Buckner on Aug. 18, 1862.

To add, he actually was released from Libby Prison and returned to the Army of the Potomac at Harrison's Landing on August 12. 1862. The formal exchange took place on August 18 and he took sick leave on August 22. He had been moved to Libby around July 18 after first being confined to the Spotswood in Richmond for a couple of days and then transferred with John Reynolds and some others to a warehouse shortly after that.

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Birthday Brig. General George A. McCall! Salutes remembering General McCall on his birthday.

 

[ErnieMac]

McCall's Division during the Seven Days consisted of the thirteen regiments of the Pennsylvania Reserves organized into three brigades with an attached cavalry regiment and four Artillery batteries. The brigades were commanded by Brigadier Generals John Reynolds, George Meade and Truman Seymour, names that would figure prominently in the Union armies during the War. During the Seven Days the Reserves fought at Mechanicsville, Gaines Mill, Glendale and Malvern Hill, suffering heavy casualties. During the campaign. McCall and Reynolds were captured and Meade was wounded.

 

[Belfoured]

McCall's Division during the Seven Days consisted of the thirteen regiments of the Pennsylvania Reserves organized into three brigades with an attached cavalry regiment and four Artillery batteries. The brigades were commanded by Brigadier Generals John Reynolds, George Meade and Truman Seymour, names that would figure prominently in the Union armies during the War. During the Seven Days the Reserves fought at Mechanicsville, Gaines Mill, Glendale and Malvern Hill, suffering heavy casualties. During the campaign. McCall and Reynolds were captured and Meade was wounded.

Oddly, the division was placed in the center of the Union line at the crossroads on June 30. Given the damage done to the division at GM, that was a strange decision. At Malvern Hill they were held in reserve. As you note, McCall had been captured at Glendale and one of his brigadiers, Meade, had been wounded, and one of his other brigadiers, Reynolds, had been captured at GM.

 

[Pollaco]

After his exchange on August 18, 1862 from being held captive he went on indefinite sick leave and never returned to duty. This led to his March 31, 1863 resignation.

 

[Belfoured]

After his exchange on August 28, 1863 from being held captive he went on indefinite sick leave and never returned to duty. This led to his March 31, 1863 resignation.

During that leave he got into a dust up with Hooker over Joe's report suggesting that McCall's units bolted at Glendale. Hooker's report dated July 15, 1862 stated that the division "was completely routed" and that the "fugitives" "rushed down the road" or "took to the cleared fields" and "broke through" Hooker's line. On December 10, 1862 McCall filed a detailed supplement to his report on the battle, challenging Hooker's statements and incorporating correspondence from a number of officers stating the contrary.

 

[Pollaco]

McCall's Division during the Seven Days consisted of the thirteen regiments of the Pennsylvania Reserves organized into three brigades with an attached cavalry regiment and four Artillery batteries. The brigades were commanded by Brigadier Generals John Reynolds, George Meade and Truman Seymour, names that would figure prominently in the Union armies during the War. During the Seven Days the Reserves fought at Mechanicsville, Gaines Mill, Glendale and Malvern Hill, suffering heavy casualties. During the campaign. McCall and Reynolds were captured and Meade was wounded.

McCall's capture at Glendale on June 30, 1862 was after he accidentally rode into enemy lines while scouting his position. The enemy being the 47th Virginia.