The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-06-14
Major General Mcclellan.

Major General Mcclellan.
There is very natural anxiety to know
all about the antecedents of those who are
to be the leaders Of the Grand Army of the
United States in the pending contest. Those
of BUTLER, BANKs and FREMONT are some.
what familiar to most of our readers, who
will be interested in the following sketch Of
the career of one whose appointment has
been hailed with qualification, wherever his
attachments and character are known:
MAJOR GEN. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN.
Next 10 rank to Lieut.. Gen. Scott stands
Maj. Gen. George B. Mcclellan. He is
hardly thirty five years OF age, having been
born in Philadelphia on December 3, 1926.
AT the age of sixteen he entered the Mill
tary Academy at West Point, graduating
with the class of l846, with the rank OF
Brevet Second Lieutenant of Engineers.
Until the Mexican war, however, he had
no opportunity of distinguishing himself,
and then, "for gallant and meritorious con.
duct in the battles of Contreas and Cheru-
busco," as the orders expressed it. he was
Breveted First Lieutenant. "FOr gallant
and meritorious conduct at the battle of
Molino del Rey," on Sept. 8, lS47, he was
offered Brevet Captaincy, which he de-
clined. He was advanced to this rank,
however, subsequently, for gallant and
meritorious conduct at the battle of Che
pultepec," and received the command of
company OF Sappers, Miners and Ponto-
neers in May, 1S4S. AT the close of the
Mexican war he returned to West Point,
where he remained on duty with the sap.
pers and miners until 1881. During this
time he introduced the bayonet exercise
into the army, and translated and adapted
manuel which has since become
text book for the service. During the sum-
mer and fall of 1851 he superintended the
construction of Fort Delaware, and in the
succeeding spring was assigned to duty I'M
der Major 4. B. Marcy, in the expedition
for the exploration of the Red River.
Thence he was ordered direct to Texas as
senior engineer, on the staff of Gen. Persifer
F. Smith, and engaged for some months in
surveying the rivers and harbors of that
State. In 1853 he was ordered to the Pa
citic coast in command of the western divi.
sion 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 SER
vice to the West Indies. The next year he
received 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 Rus
STA. Colonel Richard Delafeld, 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 resigned the SUPPLEMENTARY of the
Troy Arsenal. Major McClellan's report
on the Reorganization of European Armies
and the Operations of the War;" quarto
volume, embod ing the result of his obser-
vations in the Crimea, greatly enhanced his
reputation as a scientific soldier.
In January, 1857, weary Of inaction, he
resigned his position in the army to become
Vice President and Engineer of the Illinois
Central Railroad, which post he held for
three years, when be was offered and &C.
cepted the Presidency of the Ohio and
Mississippi Railroad, of which he was also
General superintendent. When our do
nestle troubles assumed formidable dimen-
sions, Major McClellan's services were at
once called into requisition. Gov. Curtin,
Of Pennsylvania, tried to secure the benefit
OF his experience in organizing the volun.
teers 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 IA he received commission
as Major General in the United States
army, and now has 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 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 north
east corner of Mexican County.
1t must not be taken for granted that he
would succeed to the Command. in. Chief of
the army, should that position unfortunately
become vacant, because be is next in rank
to Gen. Scott. This Office is filled by spe-
cial appointment, seniority having weight
only incidentally.
Gen. Mcclellan is now leading the Uni
ted States forces which crossed from Ohio
into Virginia on Monday night last, and the
stirring prOcamations which be las issued
to the people prove that he can WELD the
pen as ably as he has the sword.