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Abraham Lincoln and George McClellan

Abraham Lincoln and George McClellan
Artist
Alexander Gardner, 17 Oct 1821 - 10 Dec 1882
Sitter
Abraham Lincoln, 12 Feb 1809 - 15 Apr 1865
George Brinton McClellan, 3 Dec 1826 - 29 Oct 1885
Date
1862 (printed c. 1890)
Type
Photograph
Medium
Albumen silver print
Dimensions
Image/Sheet: 16.7 × 20.5 cm (6 9/16 × 8 1/16")
Mount: 23 × 28.1 cm (9 1/16 × 11 1/16")
Mat: 35.6 × 45.7 cm (14 × 18")
Topic
Home Furnishings\Furniture\Seating\Chair
Printed Material\Book
Home Furnishings\Furniture\Table
Printed Material\Papers
Costume\Dress Accessory\Neckwear\Tie
Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Mustache
Architecture\Building\Tent
Costume\Headgear\Hat\Top hat
Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Beard
Home Furnishings\Lighting Devices\Candle
Nature & Environment\Plant\Grass
Home Furnishings\Pillow
Exterior\Military Camp
Home Furnishings\Lighting Devices\Candlestick
George Brinton McClellan: Male
George Brinton McClellan: Politics and Government\Presidential candidate
George Brinton McClellan: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General
George Brinton McClellan: Politics and Government\Governor\New Jersey
George Brinton McClellan: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Major General
Abraham Lincoln: Male
Abraham Lincoln: Law and Crime\Lawyer
Abraham Lincoln: Military and Intelligence\Soldier
Abraham Lincoln: Politics and Government\President of US
Abraham Lincoln: Society and Social Change\Reformer\Environmentalist
Abraham Lincoln: Business and Finance\Businessperson\Merchant
Abraham Lincoln: Politics and Government\US Congressman\Illinois
Abraham Lincoln: Politics and Government\Government official\Surveyor
Abraham Lincoln: Politics and Government\State Senator\Illinois
Abraham Lincoln: Politics and Government\Government official\Postmaster
Abraham Lincoln: Crafts and Trades\Boat builder
Portrait
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Object number
S/NPG.81.18
Exhibition Label
The results of the bloodletting at Antietam were inconclusive. Robert E. Lee was forced to withdraw to the South, ending his first attempt to take the war to the North. But George B. McClellan, despite overwhelming superiority, was unable to score a knockout blow against the Army of Northern Virginia. The political consequences of Antietam were large, however. Abraham Lincoln used the victory as the occasion to announce his Emancipation Proclamation, effectively making the war for the Union also into a war against slavery. As well as radicalizing the Union’s war aims, the proclamation (which took effect on January 1, 1863), had the diplomatic result of making it impossible for European powers to recognize the Confederacy as a legitimate government. Militarily, Lincoln’s dissatisfaction with McClellan’s performance, including his nonresponsiveness during their October 1862 meeting, led to him being removed from his command in early November.
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Location
Currently not on view