Unknown to Major-General MoCLELLAN, February 3, 1862

My DzARk Sir: You and I have distinct and different plans for movement of the Army of the Potomac: Yours to be down the Chesapeake, up the Rappahannock to Urbana, and across land to the terminus of the railroad on the York River; mine, to move directly to a point on the railroad southwest of Manassas.

If you will give me satisfactory answers to the following questions I shal” gladly yield my plan to yours:

1st Does not your plan involve a greatly larger expenditure of time and money than mine?

2d. Wherein is a victory more certain by your plan than mine?

3d. Wherein is a victory more valuable by your plan than mine ?

4th. In fact would it not be less valuable in this, that it would break no great line of the enemy’s communication, while mine would ?

5th. In case of disaster would not a safe retreat be more difficult by your plan than by mine?

PRESIDENT’S GENERAL } EXEOUTIVE MANSION, WAR ORDER, No. 3. Washington, March 8, 1862.

Ordered, That no change of the base of operations of the Army of the Potomac shall be made without leaving in and about Washington such a force as in the opinion of the General-in-Chief and the commanders of all the army corps shall leave said city entirely secure.

That no more than two army corps (about 50,000 troops) of said Army of the Potomac shall be moved en route for a new base of operations until the navigation of the Potomac from Washington to the Chesapeake Bay shall be freed from enemy’s batteries and other obstructions, or until the President shall hereafter give express permission.

That any movements as aforesaid en route for a new base of operations which may be ordered by the General-in-Chief, and which may be intended to move upon the Chesapeake Bay, shall begin to move upon the bay as early as the 18th day of March instant, and the General-inChief shall be responsible that it so move as early as that day.

Ordered, that the Army and Navy co-operate in an immediate effort to capture the enemy’s batteries upon the Potomac between Washington and the Chesapeake Bay.