Hey everyone, thanks for downloading episode 129 of our Civil War podcast.

I'm Rich.

And I'm Tracy.

Hello y'all.

Welcome to the podcast.

Last time we talked about how in early 1862, Abraham Lincoln had issued special war

order number one, directing major general George McClellan to lead the army of the Potomac

in a movement against the Confederate force concentrated around Cenerville and Manassas

in northern Virginia.

Lincoln issued the unprecedented order to force McClellan to disclose his plans for using

the army of the Potomac and to prod the procrastinating general into action.

And that was precisely the result.

Immediately upon receiving the order, McClellan submitted a 22 page memorandum that for

the first time outlined his plans.

Lincoln's proposal had been relatively simple, using part of the army of the Potomac to move

directly on the Confederates and hold them in place while another segment of the army

would maneuver to flank the rebels and cut their line of communication.

The aim of the president's plan was for the Union army to engage the Confederate force

and destroy it.

McClellan, however, preferred a grand movement aimed at seizing Richmond, the enemy capital.

McClellan's plan called for transporting the army of the Potomac out into Chesapeake

Bay, then up the Rapa Hanna River to the small hamlet of Urbana, which was about 50

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