- Joined
- Apr 1, 1999
- Location
- Martinsburg, WV
It’s been said that the North didn’t win the Civil War as much as the South lost it. And for the first years of the conflict, it indeed seemed as if the smaller and less well equipped southern army was more than holding its own against the north. A big reason for that was the skill of General Robert E. Lee.
By comparison, northern military leadership seemed sluggish at times. In the case of General George McClellan, some historians assert he suffered from some sort of mental illness, such as bipolar disorder, which would have significantly affected his troop leadership and could be the reason for his documented mood swings.
George Brinton McClellan was born in Philadelphia on December 3, 1826. His father was a successful physician and one of the founders of the Jefferson Medical College. McClellan entered West Point when he was sixteen and graduated in 1846, ranked second in his class. After seeing action in the Mexican War, McClellan traveled overseas to study European cavalry forces and field equipment. When he returned McClellan designed the “McClellan saddle,” which remained in use for over 50 years.
McClellan resigned his commission in 1857 and worked primarily out of Cincinnati as an engineer for the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad and the Illinois Central Railroad. But after the attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861McClellan reenlisted in the Army. Initially, he concentrated on Ohio’s defense and militia.
In autumn of 1861, McClellan led Union soldiers into what is now West Virginia and defeated two Confederate forces, securing the region. The victories earned McClellan respect as a skilled leader. So after General Irvin McDowell’s defeat at the first battle of Bull Run, Lincoln replaced him as commander of the Army of the Potomac with McClellan.
After spending a few months recruiting and training volunteers, he led an operation against Richmond, Virginia, the Confederate capital, in early 1862. The campaign was not a success, in part because McClellan greatly overestimated the size of the Confederate force, in part because of General Lee’s defensive strategy. Even though the Army of the Potomac was on the outskirts of Richmond, McClellan retreated and sent his troops back to Washington, DC.
In late summer of 1862, Lee’s Army advanced on Washington, D.C. McClellan’s directive was to drive the Confederates back into the South. Union soldiers discovered Confederate documents detailing Lee’s location and the number of men he had.
On September 17, the Battle of Antietam started outside Sharpsburg. It was the first major battle of the Civil War fought on Northern soil. It was also the most deadly one day battle in American history, with 23,000 casualties. Although Lee’s army was repelled, many – including Lincoln – believed that McClellan had missed an opportunity to destroy Lee’s army and bring the war to an end.
Feeling McClellan was not being aggressive enough, Lincoln relieved him of command for the Army of the Potomac in November 1862, replacing him with General Ambrose Burnside.
McClellan would never receive another military command and in 1864, was the Democratic Party nominee for President. The Democrats wanted an immediate end to the conflict. But riding a wave of public support after a string of victories in Georgia, Alabama, and Virginia, Lincoln easily won re-election, with a 212 to 21 Electoral edge.
McClellan resigned his Army commission and went to Europe for almost four years. He came back and eventually settled in Orange, New Jersey. He was elected governor and served from 1878-81. He declined running for another term and spent his last years traveling and writing for assorted magazines. He died October 29, 1885 at his home in Orange.
By comparison, northern military leadership seemed sluggish at times. In the case of General George McClellan, some historians assert he suffered from some sort of mental illness, such as bipolar disorder, which would have significantly affected his troop leadership and could be the reason for his documented mood swings.
George Brinton McClellan was born in Philadelphia on December 3, 1826. His father was a successful physician and one of the founders of the Jefferson Medical College. McClellan entered West Point when he was sixteen and graduated in 1846, ranked second in his class. After seeing action in the Mexican War, McClellan traveled overseas to study European cavalry forces and field equipment. When he returned McClellan designed the “McClellan saddle,” which remained in use for over 50 years.
McClellan resigned his commission in 1857 and worked primarily out of Cincinnati as an engineer for the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad and the Illinois Central Railroad. But after the attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861McClellan reenlisted in the Army. Initially, he concentrated on Ohio’s defense and militia.
In autumn of 1861, McClellan led Union soldiers into what is now West Virginia and defeated two Confederate forces, securing the region. The victories earned McClellan respect as a skilled leader. So after General Irvin McDowell’s defeat at the first battle of Bull Run, Lincoln replaced him as commander of the Army of the Potomac with McClellan.
After spending a few months recruiting and training volunteers, he led an operation against Richmond, Virginia, the Confederate capital, in early 1862. The campaign was not a success, in part because McClellan greatly overestimated the size of the Confederate force, in part because of General Lee’s defensive strategy. Even though the Army of the Potomac was on the outskirts of Richmond, McClellan retreated and sent his troops back to Washington, DC.
In late summer of 1862, Lee’s Army advanced on Washington, D.C. McClellan’s directive was to drive the Confederates back into the South. Union soldiers discovered Confederate documents detailing Lee’s location and the number of men he had.
On September 17, the Battle of Antietam started outside Sharpsburg. It was the first major battle of the Civil War fought on Northern soil. It was also the most deadly one day battle in American history, with 23,000 casualties. Although Lee’s army was repelled, many – including Lincoln – believed that McClellan had missed an opportunity to destroy Lee’s army and bring the war to an end.
Feeling McClellan was not being aggressive enough, Lincoln relieved him of command for the Army of the Potomac in November 1862, replacing him with General Ambrose Burnside.
McClellan would never receive another military command and in 1864, was the Democratic Party nominee for President. The Democrats wanted an immediate end to the conflict. But riding a wave of public support after a string of victories in Georgia, Alabama, and Virginia, Lincoln easily won re-election, with a 212 to 21 Electoral edge.
McClellan resigned his Army commission and went to Europe for almost four years. He came back and eventually settled in Orange, New Jersey. He was elected governor and served from 1878-81. He declined running for another term and spent his last years traveling and writing for assorted magazines. He died October 29, 1885 at his home in Orange.