MCCLELLAN’S CHANGE OF BASE AND MALVERN HILL.

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A SAMPLE OP THE CIIICKAHOMINY SWAMP. FROM A PHOTOGRAPH OP 1862.

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McClellan had evacuated liis stronghold. Lee gave here the first illustrationof a quality for which he became noted — the remarkable discernment of hisadversary’s plans through the study of his character. McClellan could haveretreated to Yorktown with as little loss as Johnston sustained on his retreatfrom it. The roads from Richmond to Yorktown lead through a woodedand swampy country, on which strong rear-guards could have afforded per-fect protection to a retreating column without bringing on a general engage-ment. General Johnston, on his retreat from Yorktown, did fight atWilliamsburg, but it was a battle of his own choosing, and not forced uponhim by the vigor of pursuit. Lee had but little idea that McClellan wouldreturn to Yorktown, judging rightly that the military pride of his distinguishedopponent would not permit him to march back a defeated column to the point