The General Confidence In McClellan Was Then Very Great; And The Cautious Measures By Which He Endeavored To Bring His Vast Untrained Body Of Men Under Discipline Were Such As Did At That Time Recommend Themselves To Most Military Critics.

Early in September the Northern party obtained a considerable advantage by taking the fort at Cape Hatteras, in North

Carolina, situated on one of those long banks which lie along the shores of the Southern States; but, toward the end of October, they experienced a considerable reverse in an attack which was made on the secessionists by General Stone, and in which Colonel Baker was killed. Colonel Baker had been Senator for Oregon, and was well known as an orator. Taking all things together, however, nothing material had been done up to the end of October; and at that time Northern men were waiting - not perhaps impatiently, considering the great hopes and perhaps great fears which filled their hearts, but with eager expectation - for some event of which they might talk with pride.

The man to whom they had trusted all their hopes was young for so great a command. I think that, at this time, (October, 1861,) General McClellan was not yet thirty-five. He had served, early in life, in the Mexican war, having come originally from Pennsylvania, and having been educated at the military college at West Point. During our war with Russia he was sent to the Crimea by his own government, in conjunction with two other officers of the United States army, that they might learn all that was to be learned there as to military tactics, and report especially as to the manner in which fortifications were made and attacked.

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