FORT MONROE-- PARADE OF THE 3D PENNSYLVANIA ARTILLERY, FROM A PHOTOGRAPH.
I N the following pages I purpose to give a brief sketch of the Peninsularcampaign of 1862. As it is impossible, within the limits available, todescribe even the most important battles, I shall confine myself to strategicalconsiderations. But even this requires a rapid review of the circumstancesunder which, from a small assemblage of unorganized citizens, utterly igno-rant of war and almost of the use of arms, was evolved that mighty Army ofthe Potomac, which, unshaken alike in victory and defeat, during a long seriesof arduous campaigns against an army most ably commanded and the equalin heroism of any that ever met the shock of battle, proved itself worthy to bearon its bayonets the honor and fate of the nation.
In July, 1861, after having secured solidly for the Union that part of west-ern Virginia north of the Kanawha andwest of the mountains, I was suddenlycalled to Washington on the day succeed-ing the first battle of Bull Run. Reachingthe capital on the 26th, I found myself as-signed to the command of that city and ofthe troops gathered around it.
All was chaos and despondency; thecity was filled with intoxicated stragglers,and an attack was expected. The troopsnumbered less than fifty thousand, manyof whom were so demoralized and undis-ciplined that they could not be relied uponeven for defensive purposes. Moreover,the term of service of a large part hadalready expired, or was on the point ofdoing so. On the Maryland side of thePotomac no troops were posted on theroads leading into the city, nor were there any intrenchments. On the Vir-ginia side the condition of affairs was better in these respects, but far fromsatisfactory. Sufficient and fit material of war did not exist. The situationwas difficult and fraught with danger.
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