The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-06-21
SAINT PAUL. FRIDAY. JUNE q, 1861.



Major General George B. Meclellan.
Z Next in rank to Lieut.. General Scott
stands Major General George B. Me- lellan
He is hardly thirty FIVE years Of age, hav-'
ing been born 10 Philadelphia, on Decem-
Der 2. 1926. At the age OF sixteen be 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, be
was breveted First Lieutenant. For gall
liant aud meritorious conduct in the battle
of Molino del Rey," on Sept. 8, 1847, he
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 q
company of Sappers, Miners and Ponton
GERS, in May. l848. At the close of the
Mexican war he returned to West Point,
where be 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 a 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 B. B.
Marcy, 10 the expedition for the explora-
ton 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 Pacific survey,
and was engaged also in secret service to
the West Indies. The next year be receiv.
ed commission in the First Regiment of
Cavalry, and was appointed 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,
lis now an officer in the rebel arpy, and
Major Alfred Mordecai, the third member.
of the commission, short time ago, re.
signed the Superintendency Of the Troy
Arsenal. Major Met lellan's report on the
3" Organization Of European Armies and the
Operations of the War;" q quarto volume,
quarto volume, embodying the reult of his
observations in the Crimea, greatly enhanced
his reputation as o scientific soldier.
In January, 1857, weary of inaction, he
resigned his position 10 the army to be-
sno &c 4 H.,
Illinois Central Railroad, which post be
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 di-
mansions, Major McC lellan'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 14th he received 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 be is next in rank
to General Scott. This Office is filled by
special appointment, seniority having weight
only incidentally. 81 "A 5.s
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 oan
WELD the pen as ably as he can the sword.
Z