The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-11-06

culture and descended from an eminen
Scotch family. His full name wa,
George Brinton, the first coming from
his father, the second from the maidet
name of his mother, who was borr
near Philadelphia, and who was a lad,
of superior force of character as well a,
of much refinement The house il
which Gen. Mcclellan spentlhis child
hood stood at the corner of Seventh
and Walnut streets. After some pre-
liminary schooling he entered Pennsyl
vania University in 1910, and remain
ed there two years. In June, 1912, he
was matriculated at West Point, and
was graduated in 1916, not yet twenty
years old. He stood second in the lar.
gest class that ever went from the Ac-
ademy, and the studies which he rank.
ed highest were geology and engineer.
ing. One of his classmates was the
late Gen. "Stonewall'' Jackson.
SERVICE IN THE MEXICAN WAR.
The Mexican war was then in pro-
gress, and the battles of Palo Alto and
ltesaca de la Palma had but recently
been fought Young Mcclellan was
given lieutenancy in company of
sappers and miners and went imrne-
diately to Join the American army in
Mexico. He took part in the siege of
Vera Cruz and was subsequently at
the battles of Cerro Gordo, Pueblo,
Contreras and Cherubusco. He was
also present dt the capture of the City
of Mexico and, when he had returned
home ir lS4S, was brevetted captain
for distinguished bravery in the assault
there made by the American forces.
His entire conduct in the Mexican war
was highly pleasing to his superior Of
ficers and he began at once to achieve
that great personal popularity with
which he was favored throughout his
entire career.
ON SPECIAL MISSION FOR THE GOVERN
MENT.
After his service in Mexico he was
stationed with his company at West
Point He left West Point in June,
1851, having been ordered to assist in
constructing the works at Fort Della
ware. In 1854 he was sent out to the
West Indies to select a coaling station,
and soon after his return he was made
captain of the First Cavalry. Shortly
came an order directing him to be one
of a military commission to proceed to
Europe and report on the conduct of
the Crimean War, then in progress.
His report was published in 1861, jus,
as our civil war broke out, and attract
ed attention by its clearness, simplicity
and scientific insight.
Soon after his return from the Cri-
mea he resigned his commission as cap
tain in the army with thel Intention of
devo,ing his life to civil pursuits. He
accepted the place of chief engineer of
The Illinois Central Railroad, which
had but recently been completed. He
went out to Chicago to live and was
soon afterwards elected to the Vice
Presidency of the Illinois Central. In
1860 he accepted the Presidency OF the
st. Louis and Cincinnati Railroad (now
Ohio aud Mississippi, and was holding
that position when the war began in
1861.
PROMPT ACTION AT THE oPENING OF
THE WAR.
In April, 1861, he was summoned to
Columbus, o., and requested by Coy.
Dennison to organize the volunteers
that were focking in from all direc-
tions. BY an act of the Ohio Legisla-
ture he was made Major General and
put in command of the Department of
the Ohio, which included not only that
State but Indiana and Illinois as well.
He at once set out on campaign
through what nov West Virginia.
On the 22d of June he arrived at Graf
ton, and the battles of Philippi, Rich
Mountain and Garrad's Ford were soon
afterwards fought, lie compelled the
surrender of Gen. Pegram, and con-
gress passed a vote of thanks ''for the
series of brilliant victories which he
had won on the battlefields of Western
Virginia" His success at once at
tracted the attention of the entire
North, and a month after he had drawn
up his army at Grafton he was called
to Washington and made aeneral-in-
Chief of the armies of the United
States. This quick and marked recog-
milton on the part of the Government
met with the heartiest approval of the
people throughout the Northern States,
who had been greatly encouraged by
the decisive campaign in West Virgin
ia. General Mcclellan was then less
than thirty-iive years old, and was the
beau ideal of soldier in personal
bearing. 1t was a tremendous r-spon-
sibility that fell upon his shoulders,
but he at once set about to retrieve the
fortunes lost at the disastrous battle of
Bull Run. His first work was the Or
ganization of the vast body of troops
in and about Washington. By the
10Th of October he had put in COM
pact, efficient form an army of l50, 900
men-the largest army of course that
had ever been organized on the Amer
ican continent, and one of the largest
brought together in modern times.
His superior military training and his
close study Gin pasc years now served
him good purpose. He stood at the
pivotal point of all the military opera
tions of the North, and the rapidity
with which he systematized his forces
and put them on war footing must
forever challenge the admiration of
every impartial observer,
THE PENINsULAR CAMPAIGN.
lie took personal command of the
Army of the Potomac and led the fa-
nous peninsular campaign, which at
one time threatened the overthrow of
Richmond and the sudden ending of
the war. Gen. Mcclellan confidently
believed he could crush the rebellion
with few well-directed blows, and
never ceased to be indignant at the au-
thorities in Washington for interfer-
ference with his plans and failure TO
supply him with the reinforcements he
asked for when his army was before
Richmond in May, 1862, 1t is here
that that difference of opinion and ir
ration arose between him and Secretary
Stanton which finally resulted in his