George B. McClellan
Pampa, Gray County, Texas
Marker Inscription
West Point graduate George B. McClellan (1826-1885) was a U.S. Army engineer and a member of an expedition led by Randolph B. Marcy that explored the Texas Panhandle in 1852. McClellan Creek was named for him, and nearly a century later Lake McClellan was named in his honor. He was vice president and chief engineer of the Illinois Central Railroad and served as a Union general during the Civil War. He designed the McClellan saddle used by the U.S. Army. He ran for president in 1864 against Abraham Lincoln and served as governor of New Jersey from 1878-1881. (1996)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Long before he became a household name, young West Point engineer George B. McClellan crossed this country in 1852 as part of Randolph Marcy's expedition exploring the Texas Panhandle, leaving his name on a nearby creek and, later, a lake. He went on to design the army saddle still bearing his name, lead the Union Army as a general, and run against Abraham Lincoln for the presidency in 1864 before serving as governor of New Jersey. This marker ties a familiar Civil War figure to his little-known early days surveying the West.
Why it matters
It reminds visitors that the officers who later commanded Civil War armies often first learned their trade mapping the American West, linking two great national dramas in one career.
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Related people
- · George B. McClellan
- · Randolph B. Marcy
- · Abraham Lincoln
Related events
- · Marcy expedition of 1852
- · Election of 1864
Themes & tags
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