The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-08-08
Mai. GEN. George x. Mcclellan.

Next in rank to Lieut.. Gen. Scott stands
Major Gen. George B. Mcclellan He is hard
ly thirty-fve years of age, having been born il
Philadelphia on December 3, 1926. At the age
of sixteen he entered the military academy at
West Point, graduating with the class of 1916
with the rank of breveC second engineer. I'm
til the Mexican war, no "ever he had no oppor-
tunity of distinguishing himself, and then sfor
gallant and meritorious conduc5 in the battles
of Contreras and Cherubusco' as the orders
expressed l., he was brevetted first Lieutenant.
For gallant and meritorious conduct in the
battle of Molino del Rey,' on Sept. 8, l847. he
was offered brevet capaticy which he declined.
He was advanced to this rank, however, sub
sequenty for gallant and meritorious conduct
in the battle of Chepultepec,' and received the
command of company of sappers miners and
pontoniers in May, 1s48,
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 a
manual which has since become text book
for the service.
During the summer and fall of 1921, he SUI
perintended the construction of Fort Delaware,
and in the succeeding spring was assigned to
duty under Major r. B. Marcy, in the expedi-
ton for the exploration of the Red river.
Thence he was ordered directly to Texas as sem
ior engineer on the staff of Gen. Persifer F.
Smith. and vas engaged for some months in
surveying the rivers and harbors of that state
In 1853 lie was ordered to the Pacific coas: in
command of the wes4ern division Of the survey
of the north Pacific railroad Iout He return
ed 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 he received commission III the frs: regi-
ment of cavalry, and was appointed member
| of the commission which went to the Sat of
war in the Crimea and in northern Russia.
| Col Richard Deiatield, one of his colleagues is
| now an officer in the rebel army, and Major
Alfred Mordecai, the third member Of the com
mission, short time ago resigned the superln-
tendency of the Troy arsenal. Major McCiel-
| lan's report on the organization of Europ AN
armies and the operation of the war; quarto
| volume, embodyipg the result of his observa-
tons in the Crimea, greatly enhanced ms rep
ntation as scientific collier
| In January. 1857, weary of inaction he re.
! signed his position in the army TO become vice
president and engineer of the Illinois Central
Railroad, which post he held for three years,
when he was offered and accepted the presi.
| dency of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, OF
which he was general superintendent.
When our domestic troubles assumed for
|
were at once called into requisition Gov.
Curtin, of Pennsylvania, tried to secure the
benefit of his experience in organizing the vol
unteers 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 gen
eral in the United States army, and has, until
within few days. had command of the depart
ment of Ohio, which comprises all of the states
| of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. and that part Of
| Virginia lying north of the Great Kenawha
r yer, and west of the Green Brier River and
the Maryland line with so much of PennsylYa-
MIA as lies west of a line drawn from the Mary
/ laad line to the northeast corner of Mexican
county.
He has now, it is said, been called to the
command of the department of the Potomac
in place ofGen. Mcdowell. General Nee lellani
recent successful and brilliant campaign IL
western Virginia inspires higt degree Of con-
fidenoe in him as a military leader, and it is
believed that he pill fully retrieve the recent
disaster at Bulls Run at no defiant day.
1t must not be taken for granted that he
would succeed'to the commander-in-chiefo of the
army, should that position unfortunately become
vacant, because he is next in rank to Gen
Scott. This Office is filed by special appoint
ment, seniority having weight only incidental
IT,