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George Brinton McClellan (1826–1885)
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After the Union army’s defeat at the First
Battle of Manassas on July 21, 1861, Abraham Lincoln
sought a promising commander to direct federal operations
in Virginia. His choice was General George B. McClellan.
Just thirty-four years of age, McClellan had already
garnered military laurels: at West Point he graduated
second in his class, and just recently he had sent
Confederates scurrying at Rich Mountain, Virginia.
Within weeks after taking command in Washington,
“Little Mac” transformed the remnant of
a demoralized armed mob into a disciplined fighting
machine. He christened it the Army of the Potomac,
a name that has become legendary in the annals of
war.
But achieving victory required more than spit-and-polish
discipline. McClellan had to engage the enemy,
and in this he procrastinated, much to Lincoln’s
exasperation. When he did lead his troops into
battle, he was slow to advance and quick to retreat.
Finally, after McClellan failed to pursue Robert
E. Lee’s army following the Battle of Antietam
in September 1862, Lincoln relieved him of his
command. McClellan reemerged briefly in national
politics in 1864 as the Democratic party’s
unsuccessful presidential peace candidate.
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Julian Scott (1846–1901)
Oil on canvas, not dated
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Transfer from the National Museum of American
Art; bequest of Georgina L. McClellan, 1953
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