Young Napoleon

E60979

Young Napoleon was the nickname of Union General George B. McClellan, reflecting his reputation as an ambitious, highly organized but overly cautious commander during the American Civil War.


Statements (30)

Predicate Object
instanceOf nickname
appliedDuringRole Commander of the Army of the Potomac
General-in-Chief of the Union armies
appliedTo George McClellan
surface form: Union General George B. McClellan
associatedWith Army of the Potomac
Union Army
United States Civil War historiography
category military nickname
connotation ambitious military leader
highly organized commander
overly cautious commander
countryContext United States of America
surface form: United States
describesReputationFor ambition
caution in battle
organizational skill
hasContext American Civil War
hasNotableBearer George McClellan
surface form: George B. McClellan
historicalEra 19th century
language English
modeledAfter Napoleon Bonaparte
refersTo George McClellan
surface form: George B. McClellan
reflectsComparisonTo Napoleon’s perceived genius and ambition
reflectsCriticismOf McClellan’s reluctance to commit to decisive battles
relatedEvent American Civil War
Maryland Campaign
Peninsula Campaign
timePeriod 1860s
usedBy contemporaries of George B. McClellan
usedIn Civil War biographies
Civil War military history literature

Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Little Mac hasNickname Young Napoleon
subject surface form: George B. McClellan
George McClellan nickname Young Napoleon
subject surface form: George B. McClellan