But General McClellan was the victim, it seems, of the shifting and vacillating policy of the authorities at Washington.

At the beginning of the rebellion McClellan was simply a captain, but was regarded as one of the most able and accomplished officers of the army.

At the time of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, McClellan was president of the Illinois Central Railroad.

Had McClellan been Lee or Grant or Sherman he would have made a dash for Richmond.

" Gen. McClellan was at one time the idol of the army, as well as of the entire American people.

General McClellan had not been permitted in 1862 to carry out the same plan; it was now undertaken by General Grant, who sustained better relations toward the Government, and the result would seem to indicate that General McClellan was, after all, a soldier of sound views.

Its front was perfectly fortified,McClellan was an engineer; gunboats protected its flanks.