West, Lee had been at a desk in Richmond attending to his duties as
chief military adviser to the Confederate President, which prevented
him from taking active part in any operations in the field. As a
matter of fact, however, there had been no important engagements
in the East, for "On to Richmond!" had become the war cry of the
North, and all the energies of the Federal government had been
centered on preparations for the capture of the Southern capital.
Indeed, if Richmond had been the treasure house and last refuge of
the Confederacy, no greater efforts could have been made to secure
it, although it was by no means essential to either the North or
the South and the war would have continued no matter which flag
floated above its roofs. Nevertheless, the idea of marching into
the enemy's capital appealed to the popular imagination and this
undoubtedly dictated much of the early strategy of the war.

At all events, while the opening moves in the campaign for the
possession of the Mississippi were being made, a vast army was
being equipped near Washington for the express purpose of capturing
Richmond. The preparation of this force had been entrusted to
General George B. McClellan whose ability in organizing, drilling
and disciplining the troops had made him a popular hero and given
him such a reputation as a military genius that he was universally
hailed as "the young Napoleon." He had, indeed, created the most
thoroughly equipped army ever seen in America, and when he advanced
toward Virginia in April, 1862, at the head of over 100,000 men the
supporters of the Union believed that the doom of the Confederacy
was already sealed.

From this office in Richmond Lee watched these formidable preparations
for invading the South with no little apprehension. He knew that