Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 12.djvu/230

216 administration at Richmond, aided by all the Confederate States, most actively worked all plans to secure that equipment for its armies, which were now eagerly pressing into the field of action unarmed, and insufficiently equipped. With remarkable celerity the volunteers from the Northern States assembled at or near Washington, and were organized into several armies of invasion. During the latter part of April and May the war department of the United States was busy in receiving and equipping for battle the regiments which the "war governors" were sending forward. By the last of June the great armies were ready to move. McClellan commanded in western Virginia; along the upper Potomac, with headquarters at Williamsport, General Patterson was ready to advance against Joseph E. Johnston; Butler was at Fortress Monroe, and McDowell at Washington with the main body. These troops were disposed under their various commanders in one general line fronting Virginia and extending from the Ohio river through western Virginia and Maryland, at Washington, along the left bank of the Potomac, and to Fortress Monroe. The entire force, containing in round numbers 100,000 men, was thoroughly well provided with all the munitions necessary to successful war. The Confederate line of defense matched this Federal line at all points except in numbers and munitions. In western Virginia the total Confederate force was about 5,000; Gen. Joseph E. Johnston in the Valley with 15,000 faced Patterson; Beauregard, commanding the principal Confederate army of 20,000, was at Manassas; and besides these were the divisions under Holmes on the lower Potomac, and the commands of Magruder and Huger at Yorktown and Norfolk. The entire Confederate strength on this long defensive line was about 65,000.

The Federal preparations were complete in July, and the plan of operation against the Confederate defenses had been discussed and determined. Among the several