PREFACE. THE AUTHOR was induced to undertake the task of writing an account of the present war in America from the knowledge that he had possessed peculiar advantages in watching the progress of some of its events, both on the Federal and also on the Confederate side. Through the kindness of General M'Clellan, he was permitted to reside at the head-quarters of the Army of the Potomac during the campaign known as the Campaign of the Peninsula, which included the siege of Yorktown and subsequent battles up to the seven days before Richmond and retreat to the James River; whilst shortly afterwards, through the courtesy of both the Federal and Confederate authorities, he was permitted to enter and traverse the Southern States. He had thus an opportunity of acquiring some insight into the state of both parties. Still, he cannot pretend that the principal matter in the account is the result of personal observation. It has been chiefly derived from the Rebellion Record, and from the volume of Confede-· rate Despatches, both which have furnished valuable information; as have also the Acts of the Confederate |