Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1861-07-27
NiSJOr-eenoroI Mcclellan.

Mojor.General George b. Mcclellan. wbose
brilliant exploits iu Western Virginia have sen,
a thrill through the loyal states, is not vet IA
years of age lie was born in Philadelpbia
December Sd, 1926. He graduated at West
Point in the class of l946 The following ac.
count Of his military career will be read with
great interest
Until the Mexican war, he had no opportu.
nifty Of distinguishing himself, and then for gal.
antry and meriiorious conduct in the battles OF
Coutreras and Cherubusco, he was brevetted
First Lieutenant For his gallant conduct at
the battle Of Moino del Rey, on September 8th
1847, he was offered Brcvct Captaincy which
he declined but subsequently was advanced for
like gallantry displayed in the battle of Chepul.
tcpec, and received the command Of a company
Of Soppers, Miners aud Pontonniers in May
1913.
AT the close Of the Mexican war, he return
cd to West Point, where he remained on duty
with the Stppcrs and Miners until 1851. Dur
ing this time he introduced the bayonet exer-
else into the army, and translated and adopted
q manual which hos since become n textbook
for the service. During the summer and fall of
1851, he superinteded the construction Of Fort
Delaware and in the succeeding spring was as.
signed to dutyin the expedition for the explora-
ton of the Red river. Thence he was ordered
to Texas as senior engineer on the staff of Per
sifer T. Smith, and was engaged for some
months in surveying the rivers and harbors Of
that state. In 1853 he was ordered to the Pa
ciic Coast in command of the western division
Of the survey of the North Pacific Rail Road
route.
lie returned to the east in 1854, on duty
connected with the Pacific survey, and was en-
gagged also in secret services to to the West In
dies. The next year he received a commission
in the First Regiment Cavalry and was appoint.
ed member of the commission which went to
the war in the Crimea and in Northern Russia
Major McClelIan's report on the organization OF
European Armies and the operations of the
WOr-a quarto volume embodying the result
Of his observations in the Crimea-grea tly en-.
banced his 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 be was offered and accepted the Presden.
cy Of the Ohio and Mississippi railroad, Of which
he was also General Superintendent When
| our domestic troubles assumed formidable di-
mensioDs Major McCelan's services were al
once called into requisition. He was offered
and accepted the command Of the Ohio forces
On May l4th he received n commission as Ma.
jor General in the United States army, and af-
ter a brilliant career through Western Virginia
he has been called to take command OF the Pc
tomnc division, and succeeds Gen. M'Dowal
His selection for this, the most important of tht
several department, would seem to be a most
appropriate aud happy one. The confdcncC
Of the country, endorses it, and there is reason
TO expect that the confidence of the army vii
be quite as implicitly reposed in him.