d, and the campaign of
General Halleck, leading to no important engagement, did not add
to his military fame. Meanwhile there had been increasing
dissatisfaction in Congress and among the people with the supersedure
of General Grant, and to relieve the situation General Halleck was
called to Washington in the early part of July to take command of
the army which had been relinquished by McClellan in March, when
he set forth upon the Peninsular campaign. In the intervening
months there had been no General-in-Chief of the army, the duties
being performed by the Secretary of War.

GENERAL GEORGE B. McCLELLAN.

The Western victories, important as they were, did not remove the
pressure in the East. The popular interest was more largely
concentrated in the success of the Army of the Potomac, which would
secure the safety of the National Capital, and possibly the possession
of the capital of the Confederacy. High hopes had been staked upon
the issue. Elaborate preparations had been made and the utmost
care had been taken in the organization and discipline of the army.

General George B. McClellan was intrusted with the command. He
was a native of Pennsylvania, a distinguished graduate of West
Point, a man of high personal character. His military skill was
vouched for by older officers whose opinions would have weight with
the President. But he had been six months in command of the Army
of the Potomac and had done nothing in the field. The autumn had
passed in inaction, the winter had worn away, and the spring had
come without finding him ready to move. Whatever might be the
justification for delay, it was his misfortune to become the subject
of controversy. There was a McClellan party and an anti-McClellan
party, in the press, among the people, in Congress, and in the
army. How far this may have impaired the efficiency of his command
cannot be known, but it no doubt seriously undermined him in the
confidence of the War Department. Before he had fired a gun in
the Peninsular campaign he was in a disputation with both the
President and Secretary Stanton. On the 9th of April (1862) Mr.
Lincoln wrote him, "Your dispatches complaining that you are not
properly sustained, while they do not offend me, do pain me very
much." General McClellan had complained that the President had
detained McDowell's corps, and thus weakened the strength of his
army, and the President w