439

George B. McClellan

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:1,500.00 - 2,000.00 USD
George B. McClellan

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Auction Date:2011 Jul 13 @ 18:00 (UTC-05:00 : EST/CDT)
Location:5 Rt 101A Suite 5, Amherst, New Hampshire, 03031, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
War-dated ALS signed “Geo B. McClellan,” one page, 5.25 x 8.25, no date [but penned in January 1864 based on its content]. Letter to Edwin Bartlett. In full: “Your kind note inviting me to attend your Whist party reached me this afternoon. I am very busy just now in writing against time–being engaged in preparing a Chapter on Western Virginia to accompany the New York Edition of my Report, so that I fear it will not be in my power to avail myself of your kindness. Mrs. McC unites with me in kindest regards to Mrs Bartlett & yourself. With my sincere thanks for your thoughtfulness.” In fine condition.

In spite of early battle victories in western Virginia, McClellan’s leadership technique eventually fell into disfavor with President Abraham Lincoln, who dismissed the general from his post. The Democratic Party would soon nominate McClellan as their presidential candidate, however, and the officer used the referenced publication, which he was “writing against time” while “being engaged in preparing a Chapter on Western Virginia to accompany the New York Edition of my Report.” This ‘Chapter on Western Virginia’ became the introductory chapter—as well as part of the title—of his Report, which supporters used to tout his abilities. Opponents, however, used the same facts against him. One review, in The Atlantic Monthly, correctly noted that, ‘The Report is a political manifesto, and not only that, but an attack on the administration which appointed him to the command, supported him with all its resources, and whose only fault it was not sooner to discover his incapacity to conduct aggressive political movements.’ Great correspondence with a direct reference to his soon-to-be-published Report which would become a basis for his unsuccessful 1864 political campaign—the only presidential election held in democracy during a Civil War. Interestingly, McClellan—the one-time top Union general—was the ‘peace candidate’ but did not personally believe in his Democratic Party's platform.