Civil War Union Major General, New Jersey Governor. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, He graduated second in the West Point in 1846 and was commissioned as an officer in the US Army Corps of Engineers. At the start of the Civil War, he was a civilian when the Governor of Ohio commissioned him, Major General of the Ohio militia, in April 1861. After the defeat of the Union forces at Bull Run in July 1861, President Lincoln made him the first commander of the Army of the Potomac responsible for Washington's defense. He was made commander-in-chief of all US forces in November of that year. In the spring and summer of 1862, McClellan's failure to defeat the Confederates on the Peninsula Campaign added to the growing rift between him and the Lincoln administration. In September, during the Maryland Campaign, he was ordered to drive Robert E. Lee's forces from Maryland. After the Battle of Antietam, Lee withdrew back to Virginia. Due to growing divides between McClellan and the administration, he was relieved from command on November 8, 1862. After the war, he worked in civil engineering, and in 1878, he was elected as a Democrat the 24th Governor of New Jersey, serving until 1881.
Civil War Union Major General, New Jersey Governor. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, He graduated second in the West Point in 1846 and was commissioned as an officer in the US Army Corps of Engineers. At the start of the Civil War, he was a civilian when the Governor of Ohio commissioned him, Major General of the Ohio militia, in April 1861. After the defeat of the Union forces at Bull Run in July 1861, President Lincoln made him the first commander of the Army of the Potomac responsible for Washington's defense. He was made commander-in-chief of all US forces in November of that year. In the spring and summer of 1862, McClellan's failure to defeat the Confederates on the Peninsula Campaign added to the growing rift between him and the Lincoln administration. In September, during the Maryland Campaign, he was ordered to drive Robert E. Lee's forces from Maryland. After the Battle of Antietam, Lee withdrew back to Virginia. Due to growing divides between McClellan and the administration, he was relieved from command on November 8, 1862. After the war, he worked in civil engineering, and in 1878, he was elected as a Democrat the 24th Governor of New Jersey, serving until 1881.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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Major General of the Union Army
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