Henry Brainerd McClellan

Henry Brainerd McClellan (October 17, 1840 – October 1, 1904) was an officer and adjutant general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War (Civil War), a teacher and author. He was a professor at Sayre Female Institute in Lexington, Kentucky, for 35 years after the war.

Early life Henry Brainerd McClellan was born at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 17, 1840. His family had come from Connecticut where his great-grandfather, Samuel McClellan, was a general of Connecticut troops in the American Revolutionary War. One of them, Carswell (born 1836) was a lieutenant and assistant adjutant general to Union Army Major General Andrew A. Humphreys. Henry was a first cousin of Union Major General George B. McClellan, who twice commanded the Army of the Potomac. They had nine children, although only five survived Henry. He became a lieutenant and adjutant general of the regiment on May 18, 1862. On June 9, 1863, McClellan's quick action as Stuart went to another part of the field helped the Confederates save the key position of Fleetwood Hill at the Battle of Brandy Station, Virginia. After the surprise appearance of a large Union force near Brandy Station in the early morning Stuart left McClellan and a few others, mainly couriers, at Fleetwood Hill while he went to organize and lead his forces. As the battle progressed, Union troops led by the 1st New Jersey Cavalry began to climb Fleetwood Hill. McClellan ordered the crew of the sole available artillery piece, commanded by Lieutenant John W. Carter, to fire their last few shells of ammunition, which had been set aside as defective, to stall the approaching Union regiment. Eventually the Confederates secured possession of the hill.

As Stuart's chief of staff, McClellan accompanied and greatly assisted Stuart during the Gettysburg campaign.

In the winter of 1863–1864, one of Henry's brothers, a captain on the staff of Union Major General George Meade, passed through the lines near Orange Court House, Virginia, so that they might commiserate upon the death of a sister in Philadelphia.

When Stuart was mortally wounded at the Battle of Yellow Tavern, Virginia, on May 11, 1864, he passed command to Major General Fitzhugh Lee and ordered McClellan to assist Lee while other staff members accompanied him on list last journey to Richmond. After the battle, McClellan traveled to Stuart's bedside and was there when he died. In 1869, McClellan moved to Lexington, Kentucky, where he accepted a position at Sayre Female Institute as a professor. He became principal in 1870. He was a professor at Sayre until his death in 1904. He also was active in Confederate veteran activities.

In 1885, Henry McClellan published The Life and Campaigns of Major General J. E. B. Stuart.

Henry Brainerd McClellan died of a stroke in Lexington, Kentucky. He is buried in Lexington Cemetery at Lexington, Kentucky.