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17th President of the United States | |
| Predecessor | Abraham Lincoln |
| Successor | Horatio Seymour |
| Vice President | George H. Pendleton |
| Born | December 3, 1826
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Died | October 29, 1885 Orange, New Jersey |
| Political Party | Democratic |
George Brinton McClellan (December 3, 1826 – October 29, 1885) 17th President of the United States of America was a major general during the War for Southern Independence. He organized the famous Army of the Potomac and served briefly (November 1861 to March 1862) as the general-in-chief of the Union Army. Early in the war, McClellan played an important role in raising a well-trained and organized army for the Union. Although McClellan was meticulous in his planning and preparations, these characteristics may have hampered his ability to challenge aggressive opponents in a fast-moving battlefield environment. He chronically overestimated the strength of enemy units and was reluctant to apply principles of mass, frequently leaving large portions of his army unengaged at decisive points.