rough the winter of 1861-62.
The country cried "Forward," but it was March before McClellan was ready
to stir. Then he sailed down Chesapeake Bay to attack Richmond from the
south, with Fortress Monroe as base. The splendidly disciplined and
equipped army, 120,000 strong, began embarking March 17th.

Fortress Monroe lies at the apex of a wedge-shaped peninsula formed by
the York and James Rivers, which converge as they flow toward the coast.
April 4th, McClellan started on his march up this peninsula. A line of
Confederate fortifications, twelve miles long, stretched across it, from
Yorktown to the James, defended by 10,000 men. Yorktown must be taken to
turn this line. A month was wasted in laborious siege preparations, for
early in May, just before an overwhelming cannonade was to begin, the
southern army evacuated the place and retreated toward Richmond.

[Illustration: Portrait.]
General David D. Porter.

McClellan hurried after it. A desultory battle was fought all day on the
5th, near Williamsburg, the enemy withdrawing at night. McClellan now
moved slowly up the peninsula, the last of May finding his army within
ten miles of Richmond, encamped on both sides of the Chickahominy. By
this time nearly 70,000 troops had gathered for the defence of the
Confederate capital.

[Illustration: Portrait.]
General Robert E. Lee.

May 31st, the Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston fell upon the part
of McClellan's army south of the river, at Fair Oaks, and in a bloody
battle drove it back a mile. McClellan sent re-enforcements across the
river, and the retreat was stayed. The lost ground was regained next
day, and the enemy driven into Richmond. Johnston having been wounded,
General Robert E. Lee was now placed in command of the Army of Virginia,
destined to lay it down only at the collapse of the Confederate
government.

McClellan waited three weeks for better weather. He also expected
McDowell's corps of 45,000, which had been kept near Fredericksburg to
defend Washington, but was under orders at the proper time to cooperate
with McClellan by moving against Richmond from the north. But Stonewall
Jackson came raiding down the Shenandoah Valley, hustling General Banks
before him. Washington was alarmed, and McDowell had to be retained.

Lee boldly took the offensive, and the "Seven Days' Fight" began. June
26th he attacked McClellan's extreme right under Porter, on the north
side of the Chickahominy. He was