who could immediately be charged with the supreme command of these three Northern forces, unless McDowell could have been spared from where he was; so Lincoln with Stanton’s help took upon himself to ensure the co-operation of their three commanders by orders from Washington.  His self-reliance had now begun to reach its full stature, his military good sense in comparison with McClellan’s was proving greater than he had supposed, and he had probably not discovered its limitations.  Presumably his plans now were, like an amateur’s, too complicated, and it is not worth while to discuss them.  But he was trying to cope with newly revealed military genius, and, so far as can be told, he was only prevented from crushing the adventurous Jackson by a piece of flat disobedience on the part of Fremont.  Fremont, having thus appropriately punished Lincoln, was removed, this time finally, from command.  Jackson, having successfully kept McDowell from McClellan, had before the end of June escaped safe southward.  McClellan was nearing Richmond.  Lee, by this time, had been set free from Jefferson Davis’ office and had taken over the command of Joseph Johnston’s army.  Lincoln must have learnt a great deal, and he fully realised that the forces not under McClellan in the East should be under some single commander.  Pope, an experienced soldier, had succeeded well in the West; he was no longer necessary there, and there was no adverse criticism upon him.  He was in all respects a proper choice, and he was now summoned to take command of what was to be called the army of Virginia.  A few days later, upon the advice, as it seems, of Scott, Halleck himself was called from the West.  His old command was left to Grant and he himself was made General-in-Chief and continued at Washington to the end of the war as an adviser of the Government.  All the progress in the West had been made under Halleck’s supervision, and his despatches had given an exaggerated impression of his own achievement at Corinth.  He had not seen active service before the war, but he had a great name as an accomplished military writer; in after years he was well known as a writer on international law.  He is not thought to have justified his appointment by showing sound judgment about war, and Lincoln upon some later emergency told him in his direct way that his military knowledge was useless if he could not give a definite decision in doubtful circumstances.  But whether Halleck’s abilities were great or small, Lincoln continued to use them, because he found him “wholly for the service,” without personal favour or prejudice.

McClellan was slowly but steadily nearing Richmond.  From June 26 to July 2 there took place a series of engagements between Lee and McClellan, or rather the commanders under him, known as the Seven Days’ Battles.  The fortunes of the fighting varied greatly, but the upshot is that, though the corps on McClellan’s left won a strong position not far from Richmond, the sudden approach of Jackson’s