(1826 - 1885) Union major general and general-in-chief of the army whose hesitation in attacking Confederate forces caused him to be sacked by Lincoln. Good content and association, war-date A.L.S., 1p. 8vo., Saratoga, June 20, 1864, to Alexander D. Bache, superintendent of the U.S. Coast Survey and constructor of coastal fortifications. In full: ‘Your kind note of May 27 duly reached me, as well as the admirable collection of War Maps sent to me by your direction – Please accept my sincere thanks for them, and my apology for so long neglecting to acknowledge their receipt. My ague troubled me for a time from overwork so that I was obliged to write as little as possible and had to postpone all writing for a time. With the sincere hope that your health is returned and with my regards to Mrs Bache – in which, as well as to yourself, Mrs McClellan desires to write.’ He signs ‘Geo B McClellan’ boldly in black ink at the conclusion, executing his surname a second time in referring to his wife, as described above. Slightly ragged at the left edge, shows original mailing folds and slight toning to the edges, otherwise in fine condition overall. Sold with a period frontispiece engraving of McClellan in camp, with his facsimile signature beneath the image.