line.  General McClellan did not share it.  He assented it seems at first, but soon resolved to adopt another plan—­an advance either from Urbanna on the Rappahannock, or from West Point on the York.  Against his views and determination, the President and authorities struggled in vain.  McClellan treated their arguments and appeals with a want of ceremony amounting at times nearly to contempt; he adhered to his own plan resolutely, and in the end the President gave way.  In rueful protest against the continued inactivity of General McClellan, President Lincoln had exclaimed, “If General McClellan does not want to use the army, I would like to borrow it;” and “if something is not soon done, the bottom will be out of the whole affair.”

At last General McClellan carried his point, and an advance against Richmond from the Peninsula was decided upon.  In order to assist this movement, General Fremont was to march through Northwestern Virginia, and General Banks up the Valley; and, having thus arranged their programme, the Federal authorities began to move forward to the great work.  To transport an army of more than one hundred thousand men by water to the Peninsula was a heavy undertaking; but the ample resources of the Government enabled them to do so without difficulty.  General McClellan, who had now been removed from his post of commander-in-chief of the armies of the United States, and assigned to the command only of the army to operate against Richmond, landed his forces on the Peninsula, and, after several actions of an obstinate description, advanced toward the Chickahominy, General Johnston, the Confederate commander, deliberately retiring.  Johnston took up a position behind this stream, and, toward the end of May, McClellan crossed a portion of his forces and confronted him.

II.

JOHNSTON IS WOUNDED.

The army thus threatening the city which had become the capital of the Confederacy was large and excellently equipped.  It numbered in all, according to General McClellan’s report, one hundred and fifty-six thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight men, of whom one hundred and fifteen thousand one hundred and two were effective troops—­that is to say, present and ready for duty as fighting-men in the field.

Results of such magnitude’ were expected from this great army, that all the resources of the Federal Government had been taxed to bring it to the highest possible state of efficiency.  The artillery was numerous, and of the most approved description; small-arms of the best patterns and workmanship were profusely supplied; the ammunition was of the finest quality, and almost inexhaustible in quantity; and the rations for the subsistence of the troops, which were equally excellent and abundant, were brought up in an unfailing stream from the White House, in General McClellan’s rear, over the York River Railroad, which ran straight to his army.