MCCLELLAN ORGANIZING THE GRAND ARMY.

THE NORTH FRONT OF THE AVAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON. FROM A WAR-TIME PHOTOGRAPH.

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were open, everything was in readiness. Moreover, the order of the Presi-dent was not necessary to warrant Grant, already under orders from Mc-Clellan, in beginning the campaign, and Grant anticipated that order. Hisdebut was as a lightning-stroke. His victory at Fort Donelson, followed bythe capitulation of 15,000 Confederates, was the return for Bull Run. Theimpression created throughout the whole army was profound. The Federalvolunteers took heart again. The confidence of the Army of the Potomacwas redoubled. The general was now restored to health. The weather hadmoderated. The time had at last come for this army to act. . . . But theimmense flotilla which should transport it to Urbana, near the mouth of theRappahannock [see map, p. 164], or to Fort Monroe, another point of debarka-tion equally considered with the other, was not yet ready, and no one morethan McClellan regretted the delay. It is well known that he was obliged tofight many objections in order to secure the adoption of his favorite plan. Hewas obliged to exhibit the details of his projects before numerous councils ofwar, some of them political and some of them military, some of the membersof which were, perhaps, not possessed of absolute discretion. He was obligedto reassure and convince all those who feared lest Washington should be leftwithout sufficient protection. He finally obtained the Government’s approval.

At the very moment when all seemed ready for the realization of his granddesign, two unforeseen circumstances arose to thwart the calculations ofMcClellan. The first was the sudden evacuation of Manassas by the Confed-erates. I do not believe that this could be attributed to indiscretions follow-ing the councils of war at Washington. I prefer, rather, to ascribe it to themilitary sagacity of the great soldier who then commanded the Army ofNorthern Virginia. His positions at Manassas were protected only by thesnow and ice which paralyzed the Federals. With the opening of the seasonhe would be obliged to withdraw behind the Rappahannock. This movement

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