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When Was George Brinton McCellan Born?
George Brinton McClellan was born to George McClellan and Elizabeth Steinmetz Brinton McClellan on December 3, 1826 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the middle child of five children. -
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How Was He Educated?
McClellan had a formal education from the United States Military Academy and graduated in 1842. He graduated second in his class. -
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What Jobs Did He Have Before the Civil War?
During the Mexican-American War, McClellan served under General Winfield Scott and helped to build roads and bridges for the army. Also, he instructed at West Point for a time and served as an engineer at Fort Delaware. At one point , McClellan even helped on an expedition to Red River to find possible routes for the Transcontinental Railroad. Lastly, he was a military observer of the Crimean War. -
When was He Married And Who was His Family?
In 1860, McClellan married Mary Ellen Marcy McClellan. They had two children, Mary McClellan Desprez and George Brinton McClellan, Jr. -
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Where Did He Work During The Civil War?
McClellan was a Major Union General in the Regular Army. He was one of the highest ranked individuals, under only Winfield Scott. At one point in McClellan's career, he was the General-in-Chief of all federal armies. He was commander of the Army of Potomac too. -
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What Important Battles was He In?
McClellan was in a number of important battles. The list includes:
the Rich Mountain Campaign, Battle of Seven Pines, and the Peninsula Campaign. -
What Important Battles Was He in?
McClellan was in the Battle of the Seven Pines. This battle took place at Henrico County, Virginia. The Union had General George McClellan and 40,000 troops. Joseph E. Johnston led a force of 40,000 Confederate soldiers. This battle took place because of a failed attempt by the South to overwhelm a Union corps. Both sides claimed victory but the South had 6,000 casualties while the North had only 5,000. -
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What Did He Do After the War?
In November, 1862 Abraham Lincoln dismissed McClellan from his job as a Union General. After his service, McClellan tended to do odd jobs. For the most part, he worked at Illono, the central railroad company used after the Civil War. Then, he ran for president in 1864 but lost to Lincoln. He wrote a book explaining his actions during the war too, but he died before it could be published. -
When Did He Die?
McClellan died October 29, 1885 in Orange, New Jersey. He died from a heart attack.
