150 years Ago Today
George McClellan had been waging an argument by telegraph with General-in-Chief Halleck to try to keep his Army of the Potomac where it was in the Virginia Peninsula. (McClellan was being ordered to join John Pope's Army of Virginia in the northern part of the state, where McClellan would be a subordinate.) On this date, the debate having been lost, McClellan embarked the first two infantry corps at Harrison's Landing to head north.
But Lee was moving even faster. McClellan's effort to keep his movement secret had failed, partly due to an Englishman who had enlisted in the Union army but deserted to the Confederates. The Army of Northern Virginia was already commencing the march northwards to join Stonewall Jackson. Lee had, of course, thoughtfully left behind two divisions of infantry and a brigade of cavalry with but one command: "I deem no instructions necessary beyond the necessity of holding Richmond to the very last extremity". As it turned out, they would not be necessary. But the stage was being set for tremendous battles up North, and one of the most extraordinary events in history: the case of Special Orders No. 191.
But Lee was moving even faster. McClellan's effort to keep his movement secret had failed, partly due to an Englishman who had enlisted in the Union army but deserted to the Confederates. The Army of Northern Virginia was already commencing the march northwards to join Stonewall Jackson. Lee had, of course, thoughtfully left behind two divisions of infantry and a brigade of cavalry with but one command: "I deem no instructions necessary beyond the necessity of holding Richmond to the very last extremity". As it turned out, they would not be necessary. But the stage was being set for tremendous battles up North, and one of the most extraordinary events in history: the case of Special Orders No. 191.