Editing George B. McClellan (section)

===Civilian pursuits===
[[File:McClellan+Wife.jpg|thumb|McClellan and Ellen Mary "Nelly" (Marcy) McClellan]]
McClellan resigned his commission January 16, 1857, and, capitalizing on his experience with railroad assessment, became chief engineer and vice president of the [[Illinois Central Railroad]], and then president of the [[Ohio and Mississippi Railroad]] in 1860. He performed well in both jobs, expanding the Illinois Central toward [[New Orleans, Louisiana|New Orleans]] and helping the Ohio and Mississippi recover from the [[Panic of 1857]]. Despite his successes and lucrative salary ($10,000 per year), he was frustrated with civilian employment and continued to study classical military strategy assiduously. During the [[Utah War]] against the [[Mormons]], he considered rejoining the Army. He also considered service as a [[Filibuster (military)|filibuster]] in support of [[Benito Juárez]] in Mexico.<ref name="XcWIh" />

Before the outbreak of the Civil War, McClellan became active in politics, supporting the presidential campaign of [[United States Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Stephen A. Douglas]] in the [[1860 United States presidential election|1860 election]]. He claimed to have defeated an attempt at vote fraud by [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] by ordering the delay of a train that was carrying men to vote illegally in another county, enabling Douglas to win the county.<ref name="YAAWx" /><!-- Which county? Please specify. -->

In October 1859, McClellan was able to resume his courtship of Ellen Mary; they were married in [[Calvary Church (Manhattan)|Calvary Church]], New York City, on May 22, 1860.<ref name="FgnlH" />