Army engineer George McClellan was a scout for the Northwest survey of the 47th and 49th parallels. He is sketched here in the Cascades. McClellan proved to be a controversial General-in-Chief of the Union Armies in 1861-62, and in 1864 he unsuccessfully challenged Abraham Lincoln for the presidency.
Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Notebook of Civil Engineer J. F. Minter, July 18-Oct. 17, 1853
Surveying the West
In 1853 Congress authorized funds for the Army Corps of Engineers to survey and report on possible routes for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. Army engineers were experienced in surveying the West, and the military had an interest in preparing for westward expansion. Captain George B. McClellan, a West Point graduate and engineer, led a surveying party on the 49th parallel. He later served as General-in-Chief of the Union Armies during the Civil War.
Army engineer George McClellan was a scout for the Northwest survey of the 47th and 49th parallels. He is sketched here in the Cascades. McClellan proved to be a controversial General-in-Chief of the Union Armies in 1861-62, and in 1864 he unsuccessfully challenged Abraham Lincoln for the presidency.
Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
