Brigadier-General George Archibald McCall, PVRC

Brigadier-General George Archibald McCall - First Commander of the Pennsylvania Volunteer Reserve Corps .  Reverse has very nice ink inscription.   

McCall, George A., brigadier-general, was born in Philadelphia, Pa. March 16, 1802.  He was graduated at the United States military academy in 1822, served as aide-de-camp to Gen. E. P. Gaines in the Seminole war of 1831-36, participated in the second war with the Seminoles, 1841-2, and was promoted captain in 1836 and major in 1847.  He took part in the military occupation of Texas and the war with Mexico, being present at the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, and winning the brevets of major and lieutenant-colonel for his gallantry.  On his return from the Mexican war he was given a sword by the citizens of Philadelphia and in 1850 he was appointed inspector-general of the army, with the rank of colonel, which position he resigned in 1853 to engage in farming in Chester county, Pa.  On May 15, 1861, he was commissioned major-general of Pennsylvania volunteers, and his division formed the extreme right of the defenses of Washington.  He was commissioned brigadier-general of U. S. volunteers, May 17, 1861, and he commanded the reserves, which formed a division of three brigades, until June, 1862.  He planned the successful movement against Dranesville, Dec. 20, 1861 and commanded all the national forces at the battle of Mechanicsville, June 26, 1862, where he repelled a vastly superior force.  He led his brigade in the battle of Gaines' mill, June 27, 1862, and at the battle of New Market crossroads, June 30, 1862 where he was taken prisoner.  He was confined in Libby prison until Aug. 18, was then on sick leave until March 31, 1863, when he resigned and retired to his farm in Pennsylvania.  The citizens of Chester county presented him with a sword in Aug. 1862, and in 1864 he was the Democratic candidate for Congress.  He died at Belair, Pa., Feb. 26, 1868.

Inventory Number: PRVC 085