The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-06-21
Major General George B. Mcclellan.

Next in rank to Lieut.. General Scott
stands Major General George B. Mcclellan
He is hardly thirty five years of age, hav-
ing been born in Philadelphia, on Decem-
Der 2. 1926. AT the age of sixteen he en-.
tered the Military Academy at West Point
graduating with the class of 1876, with the
rank of Brevet Second Lieutenant of Engi-
neers. Until the Mexican war. however,
be had no opportunity of distinguishing
himself, ard then for gallant and meritori-
Gus conduct in the battles of Contreras and
Cherubusco,'" as the orders expressed it, he
was breveted First Lieutenant. "For gal
liant and meritorous conduct in the battle
of Moino del Rey," on Sept. s, lS47, ne
was offered Brevet Captaincy, which be
declined. He was advanced to this rank,
however, subsequently, for gallant and
meritorious conduct in the battle Of Cha
pultepec," and received the command of
company of Sappers, Miners and Ponton
eers, in May, lS4S. At the close of the
Mexican war he returned to West Point,
where he remained on duty with the sappers
and miners until 1851. During this time
he introduced the bayonet exercise into the
army and translated and adapted manual
which has since become text. book for the
service. During the summer and fall OF
1851, be superintended the construction of
Fort Delaware, and in the succeeding spring
was assigned to duty under Major R. B.
Marcy, in the expedition for the explora-
tion OF the Red River. Thence he was Or
dered direct to Texas as Senior Engineer,
on the staff of General Persifer F. Smith,
and was engaged for some months in sur.
veying the rivers and harbors of that State.
In 1853 he was ordered to the Pacific
coast, in command of the western division
of the survey of the North Pacific railroad
route. He returned to the East in 1854,
on duty connected with the Pacif survey,
and was engaged also in secret service to
the West Indies. The next year he receiv-
ed commission in the First Regiment of
Cavalry, and was appointed a member Of
the commission which went to the seat of
war in the Crimea and in Northern Russia.
Col. Richard Dela6eld, one of his colleagues,
is now an officer in the rebel army, and
Major Alfred Mordecai, the third member
of the commission, short time ago, re-.
signed the SUPPLEMENTARY of the Troy
Arsenal. Major McClellan's report on the
Reorganization OF European Armies and the
Operations of the War; quarto volume,
quartO volume, embodying the reult Of his
observations in the Crimea, greatly enhanced
his reputation as scientific soldier.
In January, 1857, weary of inaction, he
resigned his position in the army to be-
come Vice President and Engineer of the
Illinois Central Railroad, which post he
held for three years, when be was offered
and accepted the Presidency of the Ohio
and Mississippi Railroad, Of which he was
also General Superintendent. When our
domestic troubles assumed formidable d.
mensiOns, Major McClellan's services were
at once called into requisition.
Governor Curtin, of Pennsylvania, tried
to secure the benefit of his experience in
organizing the volunteers from that State,
but the tender of the Major Generalship of
the Ohio forces reached him first, and he
at once accepted it.
On May 18th he received a commission
as Major General in the United States ar
my, and now has command of the Depart
ment of Ohio, which comprises all the
States of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, and
that part part of Virginia lying north of
the Great Kanawha river, and west of the
Green Briar river and the Maryland line,
with so much of Pennsylvania as lies west
OF line drawn from the Maryland line to
the northwest corner of Mexican county.
1t must not be taken for granted that he
would succeed to the command Chief of
the army, should that position unfortunate
ly become vacant, because he is next in rank
to General Scott. This Office is filled by
special ppointment, seniority having weight
only incidentally.
General Mcclellan is now leading the
United States forces which crossed from
Ohio into Virginia on Monday night last,
and the stirring proclamations which be has
issued to the people prove that he can
WELD the pen as ably as he can the sword.
Origin of the Red Man.