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Major General George McClellan's Coat Worn at Antietam

National Museum of American History

Object Details

wearer
McClellan, George B.
Description
Physical Description
Blue wool frock coat, non-regulation.
The buttons in groups of three signal his rank as major general.
General History
General Robert E. Lee’s first invasion of the North culminated in the Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest single-day battle in American history. More soldiers were killed or wounded at Antietam than all the American dead in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and the Spanish-American War combined. On September 17, 1862, General Robert E. Lee and 30,000 Confederate troops faced Major General George McClellan and 60,000 Union troops. It should have been a clear victory for McClellan, especially since his army had captured Lee’s Special Orders No. 191, which directed Stonewall Jackson to march on Harpers Ferry. McClellan failed to use this information wisely, choosing instead to remain cautious. Jackson took Harpers Ferry and moved his 45,000 troops on to Antietam to reinforce Lee’s troops. McClellan was recalled to Washington and was relieved of his command.
Credit Line
Hon. George B. McClellan
ID Number
AF.17433
catalog number
17433
accession number
61384
Object Name
coat
Other Terms
coat; Man; Army; Major General; Officer
Physical Description
wool (overall material)
metal (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 35 1/2 in x 18 1/2 in; 90.17 cm x 46.99 cm
used
United States: Maryland
See more items in
Military and Society: Armed Forces History, Military
Military
ThinkFinity
Exhibition
Price of Freedom
Exhibition Location
National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History
related event
Battle of Antietam, 1862
Civil War
Civil War and Reconstruction
Record ID
nmah_445645
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a2-775e-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

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