ced into a realization of what war meant； lost its head。 From its previous reckless trust in sheer enthusiasm； it reacted to a distrust of almost everything。 Why were the soldiers not armed？ Why did not millions of rounds of cartridges fall like manna out of the sky？ Why did not the crowds of volunteers become armies at a word of command？ One of the darkest pages in American history records the way in which the crowd； undisciplined to endure strain； turned upon Lincoln in its desire to find in the conduct of their leader a pretext for venting upon him the fierceness of their anxiety。 Such a pretext they found in his treatment of Fremont。
The singular episode of Fremont's arrogance in 1861 is part of the story of the border States whose friendship was eagerly sought by both sidesMaryland； Kentucky； Missouri； and those mountainous counties which in time were to become West Virginia。 To retain Maryland and thus to keep open the connection between the Capital and the North was one of Lincoln's deepest anxieties。 By degrees the hold of the Government in Maryland was made secure； and the State never seceded。 Kentucky； too； held to the Union； though； during many anxious months in 1861； Lincoln did not know whether this State was to be for him or against him。 The Virginia mountains； from the first； seemed a more hopeful field； for the mountaineers had opposed the Virginia secession and； as soon as it was accomplished； had begun holding meetings of protest。 In the meantime George B。 McClellan； with the rank of general bestowed upon him by the Federal Government； had been appointed to command the militia of Ohio。 He was sent to assist the insurgent mountaineers； and with him went the Ohio militia。 From this situation and from the small engagements with Confederate forces in which McClellan was successful； there resulted the separate State of West Virginia and the extravagant popular notion that McClellan was a great general。 His successes were contrasted in the ordinary mind with the crushing defeat at Bull Run； which happened at about the same time。
The most serious of all these struggles in the border States； however； was that which took place in Missouri； where； owing to the strength of both factions and their promptness in organizing； real war began immediately。 A Union army led by General Nathaniel Lyon attacked the Confederates with great spirit at Wilson's Creek but was beaten back in a fierce and bloody battle in which their leader was killed。
Even before these events Fremont had been appointed to chief command in Missouri； and here he at once began a strange course of dawdling and posing。 His military career must be left to the military historianswho have not ranked him among the great generals。 Civil history accuses him； if not of using his new position to make illegitimate profits； at least of showing reckless favoritism toward those who did。 It is hardly unfair to say that Lincoln； in bearing with Fremont as long as he did； showed a touch of amiable weakness； and yet； it must be acknowledged that the President knew that the country was in a dangerous mood； that Fremont was immensely popular； and that any change might be misunderstood。 Though Lincoln hated to appear anything but a friend to a fallen political rival； he was at last forced to act。 Frauds in government contracts at St。 Louis were a public scandal； and the reputation of the government had to be saved by the removal of Fremont in November； 1861。 As an immediate consequence of this action the overstrained nerves of great numbers of people snapped。 Fremont's personal followers； as well as the abolitionists whom he had actively supported while in command in Missouri； and all that vast crowd of excitable people who are unable to stand silent under strain； clamored against Lincoln in the wildest and most absurd vein。 He was accused of being a 〃dictator〃； he was called an 〃imbecile〃； he ought to be impeached； and a new party； with Fremont as its leader； should be formed to prosecute the war。 But through all this clamor Lincoln kept his peace and let the heathen rage。
Toward the end of the year； popular rage turned suddenly on Cameron； who； as Secretary of War； had taken an active but proper part in the investigation of Fremont's conduct。 It was one of those tremulous moments when people are desperately eager to have something done and are ready to believe anything。 Though McClellan； now in chief command of the Union forces； had an immense army which was fast getting properly equipped； month faded into month without his advancing against the enemy。 Again the popular cry was raised； 〃On to Richmond！〃 It was at this moment of military inactivity and popular restlessness that charges of peculation were brought forward against Cameron。
These charges both were and were not well founded。 Himself a rich man； it is not likely that Cameron profited personally by government contracts； even though the acrimonious Thad Stevens said of his appointment as Secretary that it would add 〃another million to his fortune。〃 There seems little doubt； however； that Cameron showered lucrative contracts upon his political retainers。 And no boss has ever held the State of Pennsylvania in a firmer grip。 His tenure of the Secretaryship of War was one means to that end。
The restless alarm of the country at large expressed itself in such extravagant words as these which Senator Grimes wrote to Senator Fessenden： 〃We are going to destruction as fast as imbecility； corruption； and the wheels of time can carry us。〃 So dissatisfied； indeed； was Congress with the conduct of the war that it appointed a committee of investigation。 During December； 1861； and January； 1862； the committee was summoning generals before it； questioning them； listening to all manner of views； accomplishing nothing； but rendering more and more feverish an atmosphere already surcharged with anxiety。 On the floors of Congress debate raged as to who was responsible for the military inactionfor the country's 〃unpreparedness；〃 we should say today and as to whether Cameron was honest。 Eventually the House in a vote of censure condemned the Secretary of War。
Long before this happened； however； Lincoln had interfered and very characteristically removed the cause of trouble； while taking upon himself the responsibility for the situation； by nominating Cameron minister to Russia； and by praising him for his 〃ability； patriotism； and fidelity to the public trust。〃 Though the President had not sufficient hold upon the House to prevent the vote of censure； his influence was strong in the Senate； and the new appointment of Cameron was promptly confirmed。
There was in Washington at this time that grim man who had served briefly as Attorney…General in the Cabinet of BuchananEdwin M。 Stanton。 He despised the President and expressed his opinion in such words as 〃the painful imbecility of Lincoln。〃 The two had one personal recollection in common： long before； in a single case； at Cincinnati； the awkward Lincoln had been called in as associate counsel to serve the convenience of Stanton； who was already a lawyer of national repute。 To his less…known associate Stanton showed a brutal rudeness that was characteristic。 It would have been hard in 1861 to find another man more difficult to get on with。 Headstrong； irascible； rude； he had a sharp tongue which he delighted in using； but he was known to be inflexibly honest； and was supposed to have great executive ability。 He was also a friend of McClellan； and if anybody could rouse that tortoise…like general； Stanton might be supposed to be the man。 He had been a valiant Democrat； and Democratic support was needed by the government。 Lincoln astonished him with his appointment as Secretary of War in January； 1862。 Stanton justified the President's choice； and under his strong if ruthless hand the War Department became sternly efficient。 The whole story of Stanton's relations to his chief is packed； like the Arabian genius in the fisherman's vase； into one remark of Lincoln's。 〃Did Stanton tell you I was a fool？〃 said Lincoln on one occasion； in the odd； smiling way he had。 〃Then I expect I must be one； for he is almost always right； and generally says what he means。〃
In spite of his efficiency and personal force； Stanton was unable to move his friend McClellan； with whom he soon quarreled。 Each now sought in his own way to control the President； though neither understood Lincoln's character。 From McClellan； Lincoln endured much condescension of a kind perilously near impertinence。 To Stanton； Lincoln's patience seemed a mystery； to McClellana vain man； full of himselfthe President who would merely smile at this bullyragging on the part of one of his subordinates seemed indeed a spiritless creature。 Meanwhile Lincoln； apparently devoid of sensibility； was seeking during the anxious months of 1862； in one case； merely how to keep his petulant Secretary in harness； in the other； how to quicken his tortoise of a general。
Stanton made at least one great blunder。 Though he had been three months in office； and McClellan was still inactive； there were already several successes to the credit of the Union arms。 The Monitor and Virginia （Merrimac） had fought their famous duel； and Grant had taken Fort Donelson。 The latter success broke through the long gloom of the North and caused； as Holmes wrote； 〃a delirium of excitement。〃 Stanton rashly concluded that he now had the game in his hands； and that a sufficient number of men had volunteered。 This civilian Secretary of War； who had still much to learn of military matters； issued an order putting a stop to recruiting。 Shortly afterwards great disaster befell the Union arms。 McClellan； before Richmond； was checked in May。 Early in July； his peninsula campaign ended disastrously in the terrible 〃Seven Days' Battle。〃
Anticipating McClellan's failure； Lincoln had already determined to call for more troops。 On July 1st； he called upon the Governors of the States to provide him with 300；000 men to serve three years。 But the volunteering enthusiasmexplain it as you willhad suffered a check。 The psychological moment had passed。 So slow was the response to the call of July 1st； that another appeal was ma