Page:Memoir of George McClellan MD.djvu/13

 position, of being by far the youngest in the class—a lad among young men, many of whom have since become distinguished in society. He was a small, well set, active youth among them, with thickly curled black hair, whom they called Little Mac. Nevertheless, despite of his youth, and the want of that mental discipline which age gives, and which his older classmates possessed, he coped with them by reason of a strong memory, quickness of perception, clear and rapid mode of thinking, and ardent feelings.

Yale College was at that time under the presidency of the celebrated Doctor Dwight, and enjoyed the zealous labours of Professor Silliman. To the latter of these distinguished and learned men, and to his department of studies, McClellan became peculiarly attached. It is now more than thirty years since Silliman and McClellan were preceptor and pupil, yet the former in his condolence at the premature death of the latter, distinctly remembers “his zealous devotion to chemistry, mineralogy, and geology. He excelled in a knowledge of those branches. In continuance,” says Professor Silliman, “he attached himself to me both as his instructor and friend. I was ever happy to have him with me on all occasions, and especially in excursions to investigate the mineralogy and geology of the vicinity of New Haven. Such was his zeal, that he was willing to load himself with minerals on his pedestrian tours; one of which, during a college vacation, for the purpose of observing and collecting minerals, was from New Haven to Woodstock, by the circuitous route of the coast, New London, Norwich, &c.,” being three-fourths of the circuit of the state.

In 1815, at the early age of eighteen years, he obtained his Baccalaureate at Yale, with a high reputation for his knowledge, especially of the natural sciences.