author
George B. (George Brinton) McClellan
1826–1885
A brilliant organizer with a famously cautious streak, this Civil War general helped build the Army of the Potomac into a major fighting force before moving into politics. His career has long fascinated readers because it sits at the crossroads of military talent, ambition, and missed opportunity.
1 Audiobook
The Mexican War diary of George B. McClellan
by George B. (George Brinton) McClellan
About the author
Born in Philadelphia in 1826, he graduated from West Point in 1846 and first made his name as an army engineer and officer in the Mexican-American War. Before the Civil War, he also worked in railroad leadership, experience that added to his reputation as an energetic organizer and administrator.
During the Civil War, he became one of the Union's most prominent commanders. He was widely admired by many of his soldiers and did crucial work shaping and training the Army of the Potomac, but he was also criticized for hesitating to press advantages in the field. That mix of real ability and deep caution made him one of the war's most debated figures.
McClellan later ran against Abraham Lincoln for president in 1864 as the Democratic nominee and went on to serve as governor of New Jersey from 1878 to 1881. He died in 1885, leaving behind a legacy that still sparks argument among historians: was he the Union's great organizer, or the general who never quite matched preparation with action?