The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1861-12-07
From the Saturday Evening Post
CEN. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN.

CEN. GEORGE b. MCCLELLAN.
Oh. resignation of General Scott has
.,,e,d the responsibility Of the Union arm
=. mon the shoulders of a remarkable
m,, This is true not only in the common
Snbs original acceptation of the word;
Mcclellan has always been remarkable
n,p And now especially. when
-"An tongues speak of him,
AID the bleared sights are specialized to see him.
,bief review Of his past life and services
,ss much duty as pleasure to every
citizen who helps him carry the weight of
our threatened Commonwealth.
George B. Mcclellan was born at Philadel-
mia on the Sd of Decem Der, 1896, his faith
sr being an eminent physician of that city.
Al the age of Is or in 1842, he entered the
West Point Academy, and in 1916, at the
ace Of twenty, was graduated second in his
class. Or the 1st of July OF that year he
was brevetted second lieut. enant of engineers.
By an act of Congress passed during the
Nay previous. a compny of sappers, miners
and pontoniers were added to the engineer
corps, and in this company Mcclellan was
commissioned.
Brevet Brig. Gen. Totten, Chief Engi-
puof the army commanded by General
Scott before Vera Cruz, speakes of McClel-
lns genius aud energy in that company in
lbshighest terms. His exertions in drilling
tbs recruits who came into his company to
hprepared for the arduous labors of the
kxcan war were indefatigable. With the
sd Of but two or three officers he succeeded
perfectly in drilling the seventy lone raw
men who had come into his hands only
Two months before, that on the 24th of Sep
TIMBER they sailed from West Point, re-
ported by Gen. Totem as Gin state of ad
mirable discipline"
During the war this company was re-
duced to forty-ive effective men and two
Offcers-one of whom was Mcclellan. He
is repeatedly mentioned in connection with
The corps as exhibiting consummate patience
sud ability. His company never once lost
its discipline, and performed some of the
most toilsome duties Of the war under very
Tying circumstances. Gen. Totten makes
Pecial mention of the labors performed by
! lcClellan before Vera Cruz. He speaks
Of him as Eliminating his corps by his own
devotion and ZEAL" of unsurpassed intelli-
gence and zeal with which he took his share
IN the direction of the siege"
At Contreras, Mcclellan was selected
with another engineer to reconnoitre the
strong breast works of the enemy. They
had their horses shot under them, and barley
escaped capture by the Mexican pickets.
When the action commenced Mcclellan
vas with Magruder's battery. While it
was still doing splendid service, its com.
mander, Calender, was wounded. McClell-
an Immediately took command of it. and
managed it until It was entirely disabled,
with such success as to sustain all its previous
reputation. General Twiggs Immediately
presented his name for promotion to Gener-
al Scott, and after showing cosnmmate bra
very in the action of Cherubusco, which
look place next day, he was brevetted first
hsutenant. In the next battle, Molino del
hey, his behavior was so gallant that he
vas elevated to a captaincy. He declined
to receive it, aud continued lieutenant on
The day of Chapultepec, when General Scott
mentioned him "a winning the admiration
Ctall about him." He was the first to en-
Ter the Alameda with company which he
commanded. and during the day of the as
saul repulsed body of Mexicans greatly
Numbering his own corps, with loss of
=
he continued in active service from the
Commencement of his company's organiza-
ton until Gen. Scott occupied the City oil
Mexico. He returned from the war with
The rank of captain and the command of the
Company, now greatly augmented, of sap
pers, and miners and pontoniers. Between
iS4S and 1851 he translated from the French
manuel baoynet exercise, which has be-
come the text book of the army.
In 1851 he superintendent the construc-
ION of Fort Delaware. In 1859 he explor-
ed the Red river, under Capt. Marcy, and
surveyed the harbors and rivers of Texas
As senior engineer on the staff of General
Fersifer F. Smith.
In 1853 Mcclellan was employed on the
survey to ascertain the best route for rail
road between the Mississippi and the Pacific
ss9 IN the exploration of the 47th and 49th
parallels of north latitude. His report
S ssS the COMMUNICATION of JEFF Davis.
Secretary of War. a.-r
~, ur three years more Nc Clellan was var
s .uy employed. After executing secre
,sa'. ce commission in the West Indies, and
,usoeHing commission in the q. S. Cayal-
M ~, ne was appointed one of military com
T:'Slon of three officers to proceed TO the
s;. ..nea and Northern Russia, for observa-
nSa on the conflict then existing. and hi:
ApoH on " The Organization of European
tbon" ,ss and the Operations of the War;" il
hOHgnt BY army officers most valuable
IN 1857 he resigned his position in th'
ny the peaceful condition of the country
a. =