Justin Mcarthy

M'CARTHY, JUSTIN (183o-1912), Irish politician, his torian and novelist, was born in Cork on Nov. 22, 1830, and was educated there. He worked on the staff of the Northern Daily Times the Morning Star (186o-68), being its editor for four years; and the Daily News (1870, etc.). He represented Co. Longford in parliament as a Liberal and Home Ruler from 1879 to 1885; North Longford, 1885-86; Londonderry, 1886-92; and North Longford from 1892 to 1900. He was chairman of the Anti-Parnellites from the fall of C. S. Parnell in 1890 until Jan. 1896; but his nationalism was of a temperate and orderly kind, and though his personal distinction singled him out for the chair manship during the party dissensions of this period, he was in no active sense the political leader. His real bent was towards litera ture. His earliest publications were novels, some of which, such as A Fair Saxon (1873), Dear Lady Disdain (1875), Miss Misan thrope (1878), Donna Quixote (1879), were excellent. His most important work is his History of Our Own Times (vols. i.—iv., 1879-80; vol. v., 1897), which treats of the period between Queen Victoria's accession and her diamond jubilee. He also began a History of the Four Georges (1884-1901), of which the latter half was written by his son, Justin Huntly M`Carthy (186°— 1936), the author of various clever novels, plays, poetical pieces and short histories. Justin M`Carthy died at Folkestone on April 24, 1912. His publications include biographies of Sir Robert Peel (1891), Pope Leo XIII. (1896) and W. E. Gladstone (1898) ; Modern England (1898); The Reign of Queen Anne (1902) and Reminiscences ( 2 vols., 1899).

McCLELLAN, GEORGE BRINTON

American soldier, was born at Philadelphia, Pa., on Dec. 3, 1826. He was educated at the University of Pennsylvania pre paratory school, and in July, 1846, graduated from West Point with such high rank that he was attached to the corps of engineers. In September of that year he was despatched to Mexico, where he served under Gen. Winfield Scott and was breveted for gal lantry. At the close of the Mexican War he was assigned to West Point as instructor in practical engineering, and in 1851 superintended the construction of Ft. Delaware. In 1852 he served in the Red river expedition, and in 1853-54 was on duty in Washington Territory and Oregon as an engineer officer.

In the spring of 1855 he was directed to visit Europe, with two other officers, and to report upon the art of war. The commis

sion witnessed the siege of Sevastopol, in the Crimea, and visited many countries and military establishments. Upon its return, McClellan not only furnished an able report under the title Armies of Europe (republished 1862), but also designed (1856) a saddle which was adopted by the army, and afterwards known as "the McClellan." In Jan. 1857, when captain in the 1st cav alry, he resigned his commission and accepted the position of chief engineer of the Illinois Central railroad. He was later made vice president, and subsequently president, of the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad Company. In May 186o he married Ellen Mary Marcy, an,1 established his residence at Cincinnati, 0., where he was living at the outbreak of the Civil War. Offering his services to the Union, he was commissioned major-general of Ohio Volunteers on April 23, 1861, and on May 4, was made major-general in the army of the United States. He was placed in command of the department of the Ohio, and acting upon his own initiative, on May 26, despatched a small force across the Ohio river at Philippi. He dispersed the Confederates early in June, and, following this success by a rapid advance, secured con trol of so much territory for the Union cause, that the State of West Virginia was separated from the Old Dominion, of which it had been a component part. This was the first successful cam paign in the war between the States, and gave him such immediate popularity that he was dubbed "Little Mac : the Young Napoleon." On July 22, McClellan was directed to turn over his command to the next in rank and to proceed to Washington, where he ar rived July 26, 1861. He was there informed by President Lin coln that he had been placed in charge of the troops at the capital, and was directed speedily to bring order out of chaos. This he did, and the spirit of demoralization which obsessed the Fed erals after the disastrous defeat at First Bull Run quickly dis appeared. With the assistance of his engineers, he soon had a ring of earthen fortifications and redoubts thrown about the city, and by drill and disciplinary measures whipped the raw levies into excellent shape before the spring of 1862. Then the so called army of the Potomac was transported to Fortress Monroe by steamer, and began an advance upon Richmond by way of the peninsula which lies between the York and James rivers.