This general, McDowell McCook, chanced to be in the city, when the
government, becoming alarmed, placed him in command, and sent him
out to defend the capital. This was unfortunate for the poor
gentleman, and he at once became alarmed at finding himself in such
a position, and so near the War Department. The poor man knew
nothing of the defenses, much less of the roads. And to make the
matter worse he had no troops to command. What was a general to do
under such circumstances? Although this distinguished general had
seen some service, and served his country well in the West, he was
in no way qualified to fill the position now assigned him. And I am
inclined to accept this as a reason why the government selected him.

But before I proceed further, my son, I must instruct you as to what
happened in the Shenandoah Valley just about this time, and which,
of right, should constitute a part of the siege of Washington. The
troops in the valley had been commanded by no less than four
unfortunate generals. Patterson, Banks, Milroy, and Siegel, the last
from Germany. Of the many misfortunes of these generals, the
historian who comes after me will give you a more enlarged account
than I have time or space to do at present. Heaven knows, they were
manifold.

When, then, Grant moved against the enemy with the Army of the
Potomac, General Franz Siegel was put at the head of a column at
Winchester, and marched up the valley with a great flourish of
trumpets. This German general was in high feather then, and declared
he would drive the rebels before him, like so many chickens, and
never stop until he got them all cooped up in Richmond. But the
rebels were not inclined to submit to this cooping process. Indeed,
they soon discovered that this General Franz Siegel was not so much