duties and perils that confronted him, was upon his simple common-sense, his native power of judgment and discernment.  “Military science,” says a distinguished officer, “is common-sense applied to the affairs of war.”  While Lincoln made no claim to technical knowledge in this sphere, and preferred to leave details to his subordinates, he yet developed an insight into military problems and an understanding of practical operations in the field which enabled him not only to approve or disapprove judiciously, but to direct and plan.  A striking confirmation of this is given by Mr. J.M.  Winchell, who thus relates what happened in a personal interview with the President: 

“I was accompanied by one of Mr. Lincoln’s personal friends; and when we entered the well-known reception-room, a very tall, lanky man came quickly forward to meet us.  His manner seemed to me the perfection of courtesy.  I was struck with the simplicity, kindness, and dignity of his deportment, so different from the clownish manners with which it was then customary to invest him.  His face was a pleasant surprise, formed as my expectations had been from the poor photographs then in vogue, and the general belief in his ugliness.  I remember thinking how much better-looking he was than I had anticipated, and wondering that anyone should consider him ugly.  His expression was grave and care-worn, but still enlivened with a cheerfulness that gave me instant hope.  After a brief interchange of commonplaces, he entered on a description of the situation, giving the numbers of the contending armies, their movements, and the general strategical purposes which should govern them both.  Taking from the wall a large map of the United States, and laying it on the table, he pointed out with his long finger the geographical features of the vicinity, clearly describing the various movements so far as known, reasoning rigidly from step to step, and creating a chain of probabilities too strong for serious dispute.  His apparent knowledge of military science, and his familiarity with the special features of the present campaign, were surprising in a man who had been all his life a civilian, engrossed with politics and the practise of the law, and whose attention must necessarily be so much occupied with the perplexing detail of duties incident to his position.  It was clear that he made the various campaigns of the war a subject of profound and intelligent study, forming opinions thereon as positive and clear as those he held in regard to civil affairs.”

Toward the end of January, 1862, Lincoln sought to overcome the inertia that seemed settling upon the Union forces by issuing the “President’s General Order, No.  I,” directing that, on the 22d day of February following, “a general movement of the land and naval forces of the United States” be made against the insurgent forces, and giving warning that “the heads of departments, and especially the Secretaries of War and of the Navy,