Description: 1862 carte de visite of Major General George B. McClellan. McClellan was a prominent 19th century American military and political leader, born December 3, 1826, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1842, McClellan received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in 1846, ranking second in his class. McClellan resigned his army commission in 1857 to become involved in the railroad industry, and using his training in engineering from West Point, he served as an engineer for the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad and the Illinois Central Railroad. During this time, he lived primarily in Cincinnati, Ohio. With the beginning of the American Civil War in April 1861, McClellan reenlisted in the United States Army and played an important role in Ohio's early defense. Early in the war, General McClellan enhanced his reputation as a skillful military leader and was appointed as commander of the Army of the Potomac by President Abraham Lincoln. But after his unsuccessful assault on Richmond, Virginia, and his failure to defeat General Lee’s forces in the Battle of Antietam, Lincoln removed McClellan from his command in November 1862. McClellan never received another military command and later became one of Lincoln’s chief critics. In 1864, the Democratic Party selected McClellan as its presidential candidate to oppose Lincoln’s reelection, but Lincoln won the election by an overwhelming margin. McClellan resigned his commission in the United States Army and later became the governor of New Jersey from 1878 to 1881. He died on October 29, 1885. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC3535_E1_04_01
Subjects: McClellan, George Brinton, 1826-1885; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865; Generals--United States; Military officers
Places: Cincinnati (Ohio); Hamilton County (Ohio)
 

Description: Carte de visite of Major General George B. McClellan, ca. 1861-1865. McClellan was a prominent 19th century American military and political leader, born December 3, 1826, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1842, McClellan received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in 1846, ranking second in his class. McClellan resigned his army commission in 1857 to become involved in the railroad industry, and using his training in engineering from West Point, he served as an engineer for the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad and the Illinois Central Railroad. During this time, he lived primarily in Cincinnati, Ohio. With the beginning of the American Civil War in April 1861, McClellan reenlisted in the United States Army and played an important role in Ohio's early defense. Early in the war, General McClellan enhanced his reputation as a skillful military leader and was appointed as commander of the Army of the Potomac by President Abraham Lincoln. But after his unsuccessful assault on Richmond, Virginia, and his failure to defeat General Lee’s forces in the Battle of Antietam, Lincoln removed McClellan from his command in November 1862. McClellan never received another military command and later became one of Lincoln’s chief critics. In 1864, the Democratic Party selected McClellan as its presidential candidate to oppose Lincoln’s reelection, but Lincoln won the election by an overwhelming margin. McClellan resigned his commission in the United States Army and later became the governor of New Jersey from 1878 to 1881. He died on October 29, 1885. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC3535_E2_02
Subjects: McClellan, George Brinton, 1826-1885; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865; Generals--United States; Military officers
Places: Cincinnati (Ohio); Hamilton County (Ohio)
 

Description: This print shows Civil War Major General George B. McClellan, ca. 1861-1865. McClellan was a prominent 19th century American military and political leader, born December 3, 1826, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1842, McClellan received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in 1846, ranking second in his class. McClellan resigned his army commission in 1857 to become involved in the railroad industry, and using his training in engineering from West Point, he served as an engineer for the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad and the Illinois Central Railroad. During this time, he lived primarily in Cincinnati, Ohio. With the beginning of the American Civil War in April 1861, McClellan reenlisted in the United States Army and played an important role in Ohio's early defense. Early in the war, General McClellan enhanced his reputation as a skillful military leader and was appointed as commander of the Army of the Potomac by President Abraham Lincoln. But after his unsuccessful assault on Richmond, Virginia, and his failure to defeat General Lee’s forces in the Battle of Antietam, Lincoln removed McClellan from his command in November 1862. McClellan never received another military command and later became one of Lincoln’s chief critics. In 1864, the Democratic Party selected McClellan as its presidential candidate to oppose Lincoln’s reelection, but Lincoln won the election by an overwhelming margin. McClellan resigned his commission in the United States Army and later became the governor of New Jersey from 1878 to 1881. He died on October 29, 1885. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL04265
Subjects: McClellan, George Brinton, 1826-1885; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865; Generals--United States; Military officers
Places: Cincinnati (Ohio); Hamilton County (Ohio)
 

Description: A black and white photograph of Abraham Lincoln and General George B. McClellan, the general-in-chief of the Union Armies during the Civil War, in McClellan’s tent. The photograph was taken by Alexander Gardner on October 3, 1862 in Antietam, Maryland, after the Battle of Antietam and the announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation. George McClellan was the commander of the Army of the Potomac during the Battle of Antietam. The Battle of Antietam, also called the Battle of Sharpsburg, took place on September 17, 1862, and was the first battle of the Civil War to occur in Union territory. Antietam is the site of the largest number of single-day casualties in American military history, with a total of more than 22,000. Due to massive casualties and lack of a clear victor, the battle is considered a tactical draw. However, as the Confederate army was the first to withdraw from the battlefield, the Union army is sometimes credited with a victory. Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of the United States, had issued a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862, five days after Antietam, announcing that he would free the slaves of the Confederacy on January 1, 1863. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AV83_B01F12_001
Subjects: Generals--United States; McClellan, George Brinton, 1826-1885; Photography--History; Presidents--United States; Battlefields; Civil War 1861-1865; Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865
Places: Antietam (Maryland)
 

Description: Photograph by Mathew Brady, Civil War photographer, depicting President Abraham Lincoln and General George McClellan on October 3, 1862, meeting after the Battle of Antietam and the announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation. George McClellan was the commander of the Army of the Potomac during the Battle of Antietam. The Battle of Antietam, also called the Battle of Sharpsburg, took place on September 17, 1862, and was the first battle of the Civil War to occur in Union territory. Antietam is the site of the largest number of single-day casualties in American military history, with a total of more than 22,000. Due to massive casualties and lack of a clear victor, the battle is considered a tactical draw. However, as the Confederate army was the first to withdraw from the battlefield, the Union army is sometimes credited with a victory. Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of the United States, had issued a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862, five days after Antietam, announcing that he would free the slaves of the Confederacy on January 1, 1863. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL04544
Subjects: Generals--United States; McClellan, George Brinton, 1826-1885; Presidents--United States; Battlefields; Civil War 1861-1865; Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865
Places: Antietam (Maryland)