The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-30
GEN. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN DEAD
He Dies Suddenly at His Home, of Neu-
ralgia of the Heart.
The President Sends Telegram of Condo
lence to Mrs. Mcclellan, and Orders the
Flag To Be Dislayed at Half Mast.


States. died suddenly this morning at $40, from
exhaustion produced by repeated shocks of neural
gia of the heart, at his home on Orange mountain
Though he had nearly completed his fifty
year. he had preserved not only bouyant spirits.
but bouyant, youthful agility. Therefore
when he began, about three weeks ago. to have
pains of the heart, neither he, nor his medical
man, DR.. Seward, regarded the matter
as serious. He and everyone else believed
yesterday, that the troublesome malady was
either gone for good, or at least for
a long time. In that belief, the General ordered
his carriage yesterday morning. drove to Orange
accompanied by his only daughter saw several
gentlemen on business. and made an appoint
ment with one of them for IL O'clock o-day. He
returned home in excellent spirits ate heartily
at his usual hours, and retired to rest. About
IL. o'clock the pains returned, and messenger
on horseback was dispatched for the doctor, who
came with the least possible delay. When he
entered the bedroom he found his patient in ex-
IRENE agony. The paroxysms returned with
rhythmical frequency that was alarming, and
the homeopathic remedies which the skill of the
doctor suggested were no more efficient than
those which had been supplied by the
intelligent affection Of General McClellans
wife and daughter, who had ministered
to him increasingly from the first alarm. For
four hours he suffered the most excruciating
agony. About o'clock there was change. The
eyes OF the patient began to grow brighter, and
his face, that had been white with pain, began
to recover its usual rudy hue He gave long
deep sigh of relief, smiled family and said: 81
feel easy now. Thank God 1 have pulled
through" Then ne sank back upon the pillow
as II exhausted. closing his eyes. The DOCTOR
who was watching his face with extreme solicit
tude saw the unerring signs of approaching
collapse, and whispered to Mrs McClellan II
fear he is dying" 1t was but too true General
Mcclellan raised himself up on one hand half
opened his eyes, and fell back dead. No ar
rancements have as yet been made for the
funeral.
George Brinton Mcclellan was born in Phila-
delphia in 1926. His father was a distinguished
physician, a graduate of Yale College, and
founder of Jefferson College At West Point
Mcclellan had the reputation of being an indus
trious but not brilliant student; but he gradu-
ated second in general rank in the largest class
that had ever left the academy, and first in the
class on engineering. His military rank, when
he left West Point, in 1916, was second heuten-
ant of engineers. He served as such in the Mex
lean war. In the spring of 1855 he ap-
pointed to captaincy in the First Cavalry reg-
ment The same year he was one of
commission, composed of three officers
sent by the United States government to
make observations in the Crimean war. He re-
signed his commission in the army in 1857 and
became chief engineer of the Illinois Central rail
road. In 1861. he re-entered the army. AS com
mander of the federal forces in western Virginia,
Ior "A ~ po1
Cheat river. A few days after the battle of Bull
Run he was appointed commander of the army
at Washington. In November. 1861, he assumed
command of the armies of the United States.
His victory at Fair Oaks. May 81. 1862, was fol-
lowed by actions at Mechanicsville, Savage's
Station, White Oak Swamp, Gaines's Mill and
Malvern Hill. The result of the campaign was
the retreat of his forces and the abandonment
of his plan to take Richmond. General Pope
was appointed to supersede General Mcclellan,
who was, however recalled to the command Of
the army, September, 2, 1862. His victory at
Antetam was gained about a fortnight after
this date In the following November he was
relieved of command. In 1864 he was nom-
mated for the presidency the Democratic
ticket, and received a popular vote of 100000
In 1877, he was elected Governor of the
State of New Jersey, a position which
he filled until 1881. Since that time he
has been nomnaly citizen of New York,
though having summer residence at Orange
Mountain. In Essex county, New Jersey. His
recent contributions to the North American Re-
view the history of the late civil war have at
tracted much attention. No man who took a
prominent part in the war of the rebellion has
been more warmly and thoroughly discussed than
General Mcclellan. By party he was idol
lied and by the other as thoroughly disliked.
His admirers claimed for him military genius of
the highest order, but others, while admitting
his abilities as an organizer of armies denied his
capacity to handle them in such manner as to
produce great results.