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Mcclellan (GEORGE BRINTON an American)

GEORGE BRINTON, an American military officer; born in Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 3, 1826; was graduated at the United States Military Academy in 1846; joined the army as 2d lieutenant of engineers; took an active part in the Mexican War, where he distinguished himself under General Scott, in the battles of Contreras, Churubusco, MCCLELLAN Molino del Rey, and Chapultepec, and was promoted to a captaincy; was one of the three American officers sent to observe the campaigns in the Crimea.

At the commencement of the Civil War in 1861, he was appointed Major-General of the Ohio volunteers, but by the advice of General Scott he was tendered, by President Lincoln, the position of Major- General of the army. After a successful campaign in West Virginia, he commanded and reorganized the Army GEN. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN of the Potomac; in the spring of 1862 invaded Virginia, and advanced near to Richmond, but was defeated in a series of battles in July, and compelled to retreat and finally to evacuate the peninsula; after the defeat of General Pope in the second battle of Bull Run, in 1862, which was followed by a Confederate invasion of Maryland, he reorganized the army at Washington, marched rapidly N., met the forces of General Lee at Antietam, and compelled him to recross the Potomac; he followed the Confederates into Virginia, but being opposed to the policy of the extreme war party he was superseded by General Burnside. In 1864 he left the army and was the Democratic candidate for the presidency. He died Oct. 29, 1885.

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