During the month of May, while General McClellan was slowly working his way across the Chickahominy by bridge-building and intrenching, there occurred the episode of Stonewall Jackson’s valley campaign, in which that eccentric and daring Confederate commander made a rapid and victorious march up the Shenandoah valley nearly to Harper’s Ferry.  Its principal effect upon the Richmond campaign was to turn back McDowell, who had been started on a land march to unite with the right wing of McClellan’s army, under instructions, however, always to be in readiness to interpose his force against any attempt of the enemy to march upon Washington.  This campaign of Stonewall Jackson’s has been much lauded by military writers; but its temporary success resulted from good luck rather than military ability.  Rationally considered, it was an imprudent and even reckless adventure that courted and would have resulted in destruction or capture had the junction of forces under McDowell, Shields, and Fremont, ordered by President Lincoln, not been thwarted by the mistake and delay of Fremont.  It was an episode that signally demonstrated the wisdom of the President in having retained McDowell’s corps for the protection of the national capital.

That, however, was not the only precaution to which the President had devoted his serious attention.  During the whole of McClellan’s Richmond campaign he had continually borne in mind the possibility of his defeat, and the eventualities it might create.  Little by little, that general’s hesitation, constant complaints, and exaggerated reports of the enemy’s strength changed the President’s apprehensions from possibility to probability; and he took prompt measures to be prepared as far as possible, should a new disaster arise.  On June 24 he made a hurried visit to the veteran General Scott at West Point, for consultation on the existing military conditions, and on his return to Washington called General Pope from the West, and, by an order dated June 26, specially assigned him to the command of the combined forces under Fremont, Banks, and McDowell, to be called the Army of Virginia, whose duty it should be to guard the Shenandoah valley and Washington city, and, as far as might be, render aid to McClellan’s campaign against Richmond.

The very day on which the President made this order proved to be the crisis of McClellan’s campaign.  That was the day he had fixed upon for a general advance; but so far from realizing this hope, it turned out, also, to be the day on which General Lee began his attack on the Army of the Potomac, which formed the beginning of the seven days’ battles, and changed McClellan’s intended advance against Richmond to a retreat to the James River.  It was after midnight of the next day that McClellan sent Stanton his despairing and insubordinate despatch indicating the possibility of losing his entire army.