LateinJune，theCabinetdecideduponthepoliticalcourse，overruledthemilitaryadvisers，andgaveitsvoiceforanimmediateadvanceintoVirginia。Lincolnacceptedthisrashadvice。Scottyielded。GeneralIrwinMcDowellwasorderedtostrikeaConfederateforcethathadassembledatManassas。[8]OnthefourthofJuly，thedayCongressmet，thegovernmentmadeuseofacoupdetheatre。Itheldareviewofwhatwasthenconsidereda“grandarmy“oftwenty-fivethousandmen。Afewdayslater，thesensibilitiesoftheCongressmenwerefurtherexploited。Impressionablememberswere“deeplymoved，“whenthesamehostinmarchingorderpassedagainthroughthecityandwheeledsouthwardtowardVirginia。Confidentofvictory，theCongressmenspentthesedaysinhighdebateuponanythingthattooktheirfancy。When，afortnightlater，itwasknownthatabattlewasimminent，manyofthemtreatedtheOccasionasapicnic。Theytookhorses，orhiredvehicles，andawaytheywentsouthwardforajollyoutingonthedaytheConfederacywastocollapse。InthemindoftheunfortunateGeneralwhocommandedtheexpeditionadifferentmoodprevailed。Indepression，hesaidtoafriend，“Thisisnotanarmy。Itwilltakealongtimetomakeanarmy。Buthisdutyasasoldierforbadehimtoopposehissuperiors；“thepoorfellowcouldnotproclaimhisdistrustofhisarmyinpublic。“[9]
ThoughtfulobserversatWashingtonfeltdangerintheair，bothmilitaryandpolitical。
Sunday，Julytwenty-first，dawnedclear。Itwasthedayoftheexpectedbattle。AnotedEnglishman，settingoutforthefrontaswarcorrespondentoftheLondonTimes，observed“thecalmnessandsilenceofthestreetsofWashington，thisearlymorning。“AftercrossingthePotomac，hefeltthat“thepromiseofalovelydaygivenbytheearlydawnwaslikelytoberealizedtothefullest“；and“theplacidbeautyofthesceneryaswedrovethroughthewoodsbelowArlington“delightedhim。
Andthenaboutnineo’clockhisthoughtsabandonedthescenery。
ThroughthosebeautifulVirginiawoodscamethedistantroarofcannon。