Little Mac: Letters From George B. McClellan

by Threads from the National Tapestry
published on 29 July 2026

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It's been written that Helen of Troy possessed "the face that launched a thousand ships." Well, may I introduce to you Ellen Marcy McClellan, the wife of Union MG George Brinton McClellan, who launched thousands of words. Her husband wrote to her daily, and through his letters, we know so much more than, perhaps, he ever intended for us to know. Excerpts of more than 250 of his letters to her were included by Geroge McClellan's literary executor, William C. Prime, in his biographical work McClellan's Own Story which was published in 1887-two years after the general's death. Prime wanted to honor McClellan-to tell his side of the story. However, the biographer's work reopened old wounds and damaged, forever, McClellan's military reputation. This is the story of the brilliant yet controversial "Young Napoleon"...the Union's "Little Mac." Narrated by Fred Kiger Produced by Dan Irving Published by Third Wheel Media Want to learn more about the Civil War? A great place to start is Fred's guide, The Civil War: A History of the War between the States from Workman Publishing. The guide is in its 9th printing - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0761113983/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_dp_.CbSAbD23Y2X1 Visit our podcast page: http://tapestrypodcast.com _____________________________________________________________________ Some Characters Mentioned In This Episode: George B. McClellan MG John Pope William C Prime Irvin McDowell BJ John Porter Hatch Charles S. Stewart Ellen Marcy McClellan Other References From This Episode: McClellan's Own Story - https://www.amazon.com/McClellans-Own-Story-George-McClellan/dp/1519039026