Lincoln, the unknown

19D uring the first few weeks of the war a handsome younggeneral named McClellan marched into West Virginia withtwenty cannon and a portable printing-press, and whipped afew Confederates. His battles didn't amount to much—mereskirmishes. That was all. But they were the first victories of theNorth, so they seemed important. McClellan saw to that; hedashed off scores of dramatic and bombastic despatches on hisportable press, proclaiming his achievements to the nation.A few years later his absurd antics would have been laughedat; but the war was new then, people were confused and eagerfor some kind of leader to appear; so they took this boastfulyoung officer at his own valuation. Congress offered him a resolutionof thanks, people called him "the Young Napoleon," andafter the defeat at Bull Run Lincoln brought him to Washingtonand made him commander of the Army of the Potomac.He was a born leader of men. His troops would burst intoapplause when they saw him galloping toward them on his whitecharger. Besides, he was a hard and conscientious worker; hetook the army that had been crushed at Bull Run, drilled it, renewedits self-confidence, and built up its morale. No one couldexcel him at that sort of thing; and by the time October camehe had one of the largest and best-trained armies that had everbeen seen in the Western world. His troops were not only trainedto fight; they were eager for the fray.Every one was crying for action—every one but McClellan.135