last week Robert C Plumb reviewed  his book, YOUR BROTHER IN ARMS: A UNION SOLDIER’s ODYSEY. In the 1960’s his wife’s uncle bought three bundles of letters (marked 1862-63- 64 &65) written by George Pressly McClelland (not related to Gen McClellan) and sent to his siblings, while George was serving with the 155th Pennsylvania Infantry for 2 years and 8 months. Together McCelland’s letters form a perspective and articulate chronicle of his front line experiences in the Army of the Potomac battles: Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Getttysburg, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, the North Anna River, Petersburg, and Five Forks.

He enlisted as an 18 year old private; was wounded in ’64 and came back to his company in 2 months, promoted to Capt and wounded again 2 weeks before Appomattox. His men saved his life by getting him to a hospital in Petersburg (where George’s sister found him 2 weeks later). He lived another 37 years.