DuringthenextfewdaystheCommitteemusthavebeenquitesatisfiedwiththePresident。Forhim，hewassavage。ThenormalLincoln，themanofimmeasurablemercy，hadtemporarilyvanished。McClellan’sblunderhadtouchedtheonespringthatrousedthetigerinLincoln。Bylettingslipachancetoterminatethewar——asitseemedtothatdeludedWashingtonofMarch，1862——McClellanhadconvertedLincolnfromabroodinggentlenesstoanincarnationofthelastjudgment。HetoldHayhethoughtthatinpermittingMcClellantoretainanycommand，hehadshownhim“verygreatkindness。“[16]Apparently，hehadnoconsciousnessthathehadbeenharshinthemodeofMcClellan’sabatement，nothoughtofthefinemanlinessofMcClellan’sreply。
DuringthisperiodofLincoln’sbriefvengefulness，StantonthoughtthathistimeforclearingscoreswithMcClellanhadcome。Heevenpickedoutthemanwhowastoberushedoverothermen’sheadstothecommandofthearmyofthePotomac。
GeneralHitchcock，anaccomplishedsoldieroftheregulararmy，agrandsonofEthanAllen，whohadgrownoldinhonorableservice，wassummonedtoWashington，andwas“amazed“byhavingplumpedathimthequestion，wouldheconsenttosucceedMcClellan？ThoughGeneralHitchcockwasnotwithoutfaults——andthereisanepisodeinhislaterrelationswithMcClellanwhichhisbiographerdiscreetlyomits——hewasamodestman。HerefusedtoconsiderStanton’soffer。ButheconsentedtobecometheconfidentialadviseroftheWarOffice。ThiswasdoneafteraninterviewwithLincolnwhoimpressedonHitchcockhissenseofagreatresponsibilityandofthefactthathe“hadnomilitaryknowledge“andthathemusthaveadvice。[17]OutofthiscongestedsenseofhelplessnessinLincoln，joinedwiththenewlaborsoftheSecretaryofWarasexecutiveheadofallthearmies，grewquicklyanotherofthoseill-omened，extra-constitutionalwarcouncils，onemorewheelwithinthewheels，thatwerealldoingtheirparttomakethewholemachineunworkable；distributinginsteadofconcentratingpower。ThisnewcouncilwhichcametobeknownastheArmyBoard，wasmadeupoftheheadsoftheBureausoftheWarDepartmentwiththeadditionofHitchcockas“AdvisingGeneral。“OfthetemperoftheArmyBoard，composedasitwasentirelyofthesatellitesofStanton，aconfessioninHitchcock’sdiaryspeaksvolumes。Ontheeveningofthefirstdayoftheirnewrelation，StantonpouredouttohimsuchaquantityoforalevidenceofMcClellan’s“incompetency“astomakethisnewrecruitforanti-McClellanism“feelpositivelysick。“[18]
Bypermittingthisaddedsourceofconfusionamonghisadvisers，LincolntreatedhimselfmuchashehadalreadytreatedMcClellan。BygoingoverMcClellan’sheadtotakeadvicefromhissubordinateshehadputtheGeneralonaleash；
now，bysettingHitchcockandtheexpertsintheseatofjudgment，hevirtually，forashortwhile，puthimselfonaleash。Thushadcomeintotacitbutrealpowerthreemilitarycouncilsnoneofwhichwasrecognizedassuchbylaw——theCounciloftheSubordinatesbehindMcClellan；theCounciloftheExpertsbehindLincoln；theCounciloftheJacobins，calledTheCommittee，behindthemall。
ThepoliticalpressureonLincolnnowchangeditstack。ItsunfailingzealtodiscreditMcClellanassumedtheformofinsistingthathehadasecretpurposeinwaitingtogethisarmyawayfromWashington，thathewasschemingtoleavethecityopentotheConfederates，to“uncover“it，asthesoldierssaid。Bywayoffocussingthematteronadefiniteissue，hisenemiesdemandedthathedetachfromhisarmyandassigntothedefenseofWashington，adivisionwhichwassupposedtobepeculiarlyefficientGeneralBlenkerhadrecruitedasortof“foreignlegion，“inwhichweremanydaringadventurerswhohadseenserviceinEuropeanarmies。Blenker’swasthedivisiondemanded。SodeterminedwasthepressurethatLincolnyielded。
However，hisbriefangerhadblownitselfout。TocontinuevengefulanylengthoftimewasforLincolnimpossible。HewasagainthenormalLincoln，passionless，tender，fearfulofdoinganinjustice，weigheddownbythesenseofresponsibility。HebrokethenewsaboutBlenkerinapersonalnotetoMcClellanthatwasalmostapologetic。“IwritethistoassureyouthatIdidsowithgreatpain，understandingthatyouwouldwishitotherwise。Ifyoucouldknowthefullpressureofthecase，Iamconfidentyouwouldjustifyit。“[19]
Inconversation，heassuredMcClellanthatnootherportionofhisarmyshouldbetakenfromhim。[20]
ThechangeinLincoln’smoodexasperatedStanton。HecalledonhispalsintheCommitteeforanotherofthosesecretconfabulationsinwhichbothheandtheydelighted。SpeakingwithscornofLincoln’sreturntomagnanimity，hetoldthemthatthePresidenthad“gonebacktohisfirstlove，“thetraitorMcClellan。ProbablyallthosemenwhowaggedtheirchinsinthatconferencereallybelievedthatMcClellanwasaimingtobetraythem。Oneindeed，Julian，longafterwardhadthelargenessofmindtoconfesshisfaultandrecant。Therestdiedintheirabsurddelusion，maniacsofsuspiciontotheveryend。Atthetimeallofthemlaidtheirheadstogether——forwhatpurpose？WasittocatchMcClellaninatrap？
Meanwhile，inobediencetoLincoln’sordersofMarchthirteenth，McClellandrewupaplanforthedefenseofWashington。AsHitchcockwasnowinsuchhighfeather，McClellansenthisplantothenewfavoriteoftheWarOffice，forcriticism。Hitchcockrefusedtocriticize，andwhenMcClellan’schiefofstaffpressedfor“hisopinion，asanoldandexperiencedofficer，“HitchcockrepliedthatMcClellanhadhadampleopportunitytoknowwhatwasneeded，andpersistedinhisrefusal。[21]McClellanaskednofurtheradviceandmadehisarrangementstosuithimself。OnAprilfirsthetookboatatAlexandriaforthefront。Partofhisarmyhadprecededhim。
Theremainder-excepttheforcehehadassignedtothedefenseofWashington-wasspeedilytofollow。
WithMcClellan’sdeparturestillanotherdevoteeofsuspicionmovestothefrontofthestage。ThiswasGeneralWadsworth。
EarlyinMarch，StantonhadtoldMcClellanthathewantedWadsworthascommanderofthedefensesofWashington。
McClellanhadprotested。Wadsworthwasnotamilitaryman。HewasapoliticianturnedsoldierwhohadtriedtobesenatorfromNewYorkandfailed；triedtobegovernorandfailed；andwasdestinedtotryagaintobegovernor，andagaintofail。
Whyshouldsuchapersonbesingledouttobecomeresponsibleforthesafetyofthecapital？Stanton’sonlyargumentwasthattheappointmentofWadsworthwasdesirableforpoliticalreasons。HeaddedthatitwouldbemadewhetherMcClellanlikeditornot。Andmadeitwas。[22]Furthermore，Wadsworth，whohadpreviouslyprofessedfriendshipforMcClellan，promptlyjoinedtheranksofhisenemies。Cananyonedoubt，StantonbeingStanton，madwithdistrustofMcClellan，thatWadsworthwasfullyinformedofMcClellan’soppositiontohisadvancement？
OnthesecondofAprilWadsworththrewabombafterthevanishingMcClellan，thenaboardhissteamersomewherebetweenWashingtonandFortressMonroe。WadsworthinformedStantonthatMcClellanhadnotcarriedouttheordersofMarchthirteenth，thattheforcehehadleftatWashingtonwasinadequatetoitssafety，thatthecapitalwas“uncovered。“
HerewasachanceforStantontobringtobearonLincolnboththoseunofficialcouncilsthatweremeddlingsodeeplyinthecontrolofthearmy。HethrewthisfirebrandofareportamonghissatellitesoftheArmyBoardandintothemidstoftheCommittee。2[3]
Itisneedlessheretogointothefuriousdisputesthatensued-theaccusations，therecriminations，theinnuendoes!
McClellanstoutlyinsistedthathehadobeyedboththespiritandtheletterofMarchthirteenth；thatWashingtonwasamplyprotected。Hisenemiesshriekedthathisstatementswerebasedonjuggledfigures；thatevenifthenumberofsoldierswasadequate，thequalityandequipmentwerewretched；inawordthathelied。Itisashame-lesscontroversyinconceivableweretherenotmanymeninwhompoliticsandprejudicefaroutweighedpatriotism。Inallthis，HitchcockwasStanton’strumpcard。HewhohadrefusedtoadviseMcClellan，didnothesitatetodenouncehim。InresponsetoarequestfromStanton，hemadeareportsustainingWadsworth。TheCommitteesummonedWadsworthbeforeit；hereadthemhisreporttoStanton；reiterateditscharges，andtreatedthemtosomeinnuendoesaftertheirownhearts，plainlyhintingthatMcClellancouldhavecrushedtheConfederatesatManassasifhehadwishedto。[24]
AwaveofhysteriaswepttheCommitteeandtheWarOfficeandbeatfiercelyuponLincoln。TheBoardchargedhimtosavethedaybymulctingthearmyofthePotomacofanentirecorps，retainingitatWashington。LincolnmettheBoardinalongandtroubledconference。HisanxiousdesiretodoallhecouldforMcClellanwaspalpable。[25]Butwhat，underthecircumstances，couldhedo？Herewasthisnewdeviceforthesteadyingofhisjudgment，thisCouncilofExperts，singingthesameoldtune，assuringhimthatMcClellanwasnottobetrusted。AlthoughinthereactionfromhismomentaryvengefulnesshehadundoubtedlyswungfarbacktowardrecoveringconfidenceinMcClellan，didhedare——painfullyconsciousashewasthathe“hadnomilitaryknowledge“——didhedaregoagainsttheBoard，disregarditswarningthatMcClellan’sarrangementsmadeofWashingtonadanglingplumforConfederateraiderstosnatchwhenevertheypleased。HisbewildermentastowhatMcClellanwasreallydrivingatcamebackuponhiminfullforce。Hereachedatlastthedrearyconclusionthattherewasnothingforitbuttoletthenewwheelwithinthewheelstakeitsturnatrunningthemachine。
AcceptingtheviewthatMcClellanhadnotkeptfaithonthebasisoftheordersofMarchthirteenth，Lincoln“aftermuchconsideration“setasidehisownpromisetoMcClellanandauthorizedtheSecretaryofWartodetainafullcorps。[26]
McClellanneverforgavethismutilationofhisarmyandintimefixeduponitastheprimecauseofhiseventualfailureonthePeninsula。ItisdoubtfulwhetherrelationsbetweenhimandLincolnwereeveragainreallycordial。
IntheirratherfullcorrespondenceduringthetensedaysofApril，MayandJune，thesteadydeteriorationofMcClellan’sjudgmentborehimdownintoamazingdepthsoffatuousness。InhisownwayhewasasmuchappalledbythegrowthofhisresponsibilityaseverLincolnhadbeen。Hemovedwithincrediblecaution。*
*Commentingononeofhismomentsofhesitation，J。S。
JohnstonwrotetoLee：“NoonebutMcClellancouldhavehesitatedtoattack。“14O。R。，416。
Hisdespatcheswereacontinualwailingformoremen。WhateverwentwrongwasatonceblamedonWashington。Hisill-usagehadmadehimbitter。Andhecouldnotescapethefactthathisactualperformancedidnotcomeuptoexpectation；thathewasconstantlyout-generaled。Hisprevailingtemperduringthesedaysisshowninalettertohiswife。“IhaveraisedanawfulrowaboutMcDowell’scorps。ThePresidentverycoollytelegraphedmeyesterdaythathethoughtIoughttobreaktheenemy’slinesatonce。Iwasmuchtemptedtoreplythathehadbettercomeanddoithimself。“AdespatchtoStanton，inamomentofdisaster，hasbecomenotorious：“IfIsavethisarmynow，ItellyouplainlyIowenothankstoyouortoanyotherpersonsinWashington。Youhavedoneyourbesttosacrificethisarmy。“[27]
Throughoutthispreposterouscorrespondence，Lincolnmaintainedtheeventenorofhisusualpatientstoicism，“hissadlucidityofsoul。“Heexplained；hereasoned；hepromised，overandover，assistancetothelimitofhispower；heneverscolded；
whencomplaintbecametooabsurdtobereasonedwith，hepasseditoverinsilence。Again，hewastheselflessman，hissensibilitieslostinthepurposehesoughttoestablish。
Onceduringthisperiod，heactedsuddenly，onthespurofthemoment，inaswiftupflaringofhisunconquerablefearforthesafetyofWashington。Previously，hehadconsentedtopushthedetainedcorps，McDowell’s，southwardbylandtocooperatewithMcClellan，whoadaptedhisplanstothisarrangement。Scarcelyhadhedoneso，thanLincolnthrewhisplansintoconfusionbyorderingMcDowellbacktoWashington。[28]Jackson，whohadbegunhisfamouscampaignofmenace，wassweepinglikeawhirlwinddowntheShenandoahValley，andintheeyesofpanic-struckWashingtonappearedtobeareincarnationofSouthey’sNapoleon，——
“AndthegreatFew-Faw-Fum，wouldpresentlycome，Withahop，skipandjump“
intoPennsylvaniaAvenue。AsJackson’sobjectwastobringMcDowellbacktoWashingtonandenableJohnstontodealwithMcClellanunreinforced，Lincolnhadfallenintoatrap。Buthehadmuchcompany。Stantonwaswell-nighoutofhishead。
ThoughJackson’sarmywaslessthanfifteenthousandandtheUnionforcesinfrontofhimupwardofsixtythousand，StantontelegraphedtoNortherngovernorsimploringthemtohastenforwardmilitiabecause“theenemyingreatforcearemarchingonWashington。“[29]
ThemomentJacksonhadaccomplishedhispurpose，havingdrawnagreatarmynorthwestwardawayfromMcClellan，mostofwhichshouldhavebeenmarchingsoutheastwardtojoinMcClellan，heslippedaway，rushedhisownarmyacrossthewholewidthofVirginia，andjoinedLeeintheterriblefightingoftheSevenDaysbeforeRichmond。