With Malice Toward None

The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Exhibition    

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After months of waiting, President Lincoln became convinced that General McClellan did not have a plan of attack on Confederate forces in Northern Virginia. General War Order No. 1, while directed at all Union land and naval forces, was also designed to spur McClellan into action. (Lincoln’s Special War Order No. 1, used on January 31, was specifically aimed at forcing McClellan to begin offensive operation in Virginia.). The day specified in both those war orders for this forward movement, George Washington’s birthday, bestowed a sense of purpose. However, because no attention was given to such variables as weather, transportation, communications, and logistics, it is difficult to believe that Lincoln expected much to happen.

(Transcription)

Ordered that the 22nd day of February 1862, be the day for a general movement of the Land and Naval forces of the United States against the insurgent forces.


After months of waiting, President Lincoln became convinced that General McClellan did not have a plan of attack on Confederate forces in Northern Virginia. General War Order No. 1, while directed at all Union land and naval forces, was also designed to spur McClellan into action. (Lincoln’s Special War Order No. 1, used on January 31, was specifically aimed at forcing McClellan to begin offensive operation in Virginia.). The day specified in both those war orders for this forward movement, George Washington’s birthday, bestowed a sense of purpose. However, because no attention was given to such variables as weather, transportation, communications, and logistics, it is difficult to believe that Lincoln expected much to happen.