1862] Lee invades Maryland. 481 with the Army of the Potomac and most of its leaders, placed him, on September , in command of the defences of Washington, to gather and consolidate the beaten and dispirited troops. Mr Lincoln took this action against the judgment of a majority of his Cabinet, simply because McClellan, dilatory as he was, was the fittest instrument to avert a momentary danger; and the general, who for two months had been contemptuous and half mutinous in his conduct toward the President, the Secretary of War, and General Halleck, now began again to show a zealous deference towards his superiors, and with unwonted personal activity soon restored order and harmony in the reunited army. General Lee, seeing no chance of a successful attack on Washington, now conceived a plan to extend his offensive campaign, and moved his whole army across the Potomac into Maryland, by way of Leesburg and Frederick, with the double hope of causing a rising among the Maryland Secessionists and drawing McClellan into a battle favourable to the Confederates. There was also the possibility that, if he could win a decisive victory, he might seize the communications with Washington, or perhaps even advance into Pennsylvania, occupy Philadelphia, and dictate a peace in Independence Hall. McClelland duty was to oppose defensive tactics to Lee's movement, and to protect the capital; but this plan of action was, without the previous consent of the authorities, gradually changed into that of a campaign against Lee. It is not likely that this would have been per- mitted had President Lincoln been possessed of all the information which in the course of thirty years has subsequently thrown light on McClellan's character and conduct. But it was a time of uncertainty and appre- hension. Lee's audacity portended greater danger than really existed ; and the Governor of Pennsylvania called out his militia reserves. At this point a rare piece of good fortune once more fell to McClellan's lot. On September 13 a private soldier picked up, in one of the enemy's abandoned camps, a copy of Lee's General Order of September 9, which, placed in McClellan's hands, gave him full information as to the movements and intentions of the enemy. It was to the effect that Lee had divided his forces, leaving one portion in Maryland while the other recrossed the Potomac to capture Harper's Ferry ; and that their weakened vanguard was within a twenty-miles march. But even this brilliant opportunity of annihilating the foe was insufficient to rouse McClellan to energy and expedition. With splendid weather, good roads, and the President's urgent telegram not to let the enemy get away without being hurt, time equal to two full days slipped away in indecision and lethargy ; and, when at last battle was joined at Antietam on September 17, Lee's reunited forces were on the field and in the fight, while one-third of McClellan's army was not engaged at all, and the remainder was sent into action piecemeal, and under orders so defective that co-operative movement and mutual c. M. H. vii. OH. xv. 31
