Text President Abraham Lincoln's Executive Order Relieving General G. B. McClellan and Making Other Changes

November 5, 1862

On November 5, 1862, President Lincoln issued an executive order replacing George B. McClellan with Ambrose E. Burnside as commander of the Army of the Potomac.

Portrait of Abraham Lincoln

On November 5, 1862, President Lincoln issued an executive order replacing George B. McClellan with Ambrose E. Burnside as commander of the Army of the Potomac. [Wikimedia Commons]

Nov. 5, 1862

By direction of the President, it is ordered that Major-General McClellan be relieved from the command of the Army of the Potomac, and that Major-General Burnside take the command of that army; also that Major-General Hunter take command of the corps in said army which is now commanded by General Burnside; that Major-General Fitz John Porter be relieved from the command of the corps he now commands in said army, and that Major-General Hooker take command of said corps.

The General in Chief is authorized, in (his) discretion, to issue an order substantially as the above forthwith, or so soon as he may deem proper.

A. LINCOLN

Citation Information

The following information is provided for citations.

  • Article Title Text President Abraham Lincoln's Executive Order Relieving General G. B. McClellan and Making Other Changes
  • Date November 5, 1862
  • Author
  • Keywords lincoln, mcclellan
  • Website Name American History Central
  • Access Date December 10, 2023
  • Publisher R.Squared Communications, LLC
  • Original Published Date
  • Date of Last Update May 3, 2022

Text President Abraham Lincoln's Executive Order Relieving General G. B. McClellan and Making Other Changes is Part of the Following on AHC