Daily national Democrat., 1861-08-07
Major-GeneraI Geo. u. Mcclellan.

The attention of the whole country is now
! directed towards General Mcclellan, W ho has
been ordered to take command of the forces
on tho Potomac We find the following brief
history Of his military career in an exchange:
Next in rank TO Lieut.. General Scott ST in1a
Major General 6 Gorge B Mcclellan He is
hardly 35 years Of age, having been born in
Philadelphia on December Sd, 1926 At the
age of l6 he entered the Military Academy at
West Point, graduating with the class of
1916. with the rank Of Brevet Second Lieut.
of Engineers.
Until the MeXican war, however, he had
no opportunity of distinguishing himself and
then, "for gallant and merilorious conduct in
the battle of Contreras and Cherubusco." as
the orders expressed it. be was breveted First
Lieutenant. For gallant and meritolious
conduct in the battle Of Molino del Rry," on
September Sth. 1877, he was offered Brevet
Captaincy, which he declined. He was ad-
vanced to this rank subsequently, however
"for gallant and mcrtorious conduct in the
battle of Cheputepec, and received the com
mand of company of sappers, miners and
pontoneers, in May 1913
At the close of the Mexican war he re-
turned to Vest Point, where he remained on
duty with the Suppers and Miners until 1851
During this time he introduced the bayouet
exercise into the army. and translated and
| adapted n manual VIII, h has since become
text book for the service. During the sum
mUr aud fall Of 1851, he euperinlended the
construction of Fort Delaware, and in the
succeeding spring he WAS assigned to duty
under Major II. B. Marcy, in the expedition
for the exploration Of the Red River Thence
he was ordered direct to Texas, as Senior En-
gineer on the staff of Gen. PeTsifer F. Smith
and was engaged for some months in survey
ing the rivers and hnrbors of that State In
1853 he was ordered to the Pacific coast in
command of the western division of the sur
vey of the North Pacific Railroad route lie
returned to the East in 1854 on duty connec
ted with the Pacific Survey, and was cngag-
ed also in secret service to the West Indies
The next year he received a commission in
the lst. Regiment of Cavalry, and WAS ap-
pointed a member oI the commission which
went to the seat Of war in the Crimca and in
Northern Russia. Col. Richard Delatield,
enc of his colleagues. is now an officer in the
rebel army, and Major Afred Mordecai the
third member of the commission, shcrt time
ago resigned the SUPPLEMENTARY of the
Troy Arsenal. Major McClellau's report on
the reorganization of European Armies and
embodying the result of his observations in
the Crimea, greatly enhanced bis reputation
as a scientific soldier.
In January, 1857. weary of inNction, 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 accpp-
ted the Presidency of the Ohio and Missi~-
sippi Railroad, of which he was also General
Superintendent. When our domestic trouble
assumed formidable dimensions, Major Me-
Clellan's services were at once called into
requsition. Gov. Curtin, of Pennsylvania,
tried to secure the benefit of his experience
in organizing the volunteers from that STATE,
but the tender of the Major Generaship 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 army. and now has command of the
Department of Ohio which comprises all of
the States of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, and
that 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 nc lies west a line
drawn from the Maryland line to the north
east corner ofMcKeNn county.