A key clicked in the front door and the quick, firm step of McClellan echoed through the hall.
The orderly was reporting his distinguished visitor. They could hear his low words, and the sharp answer.
The General mounted the stairs and entered the front room overhead. He was there, of course, to arrange his toilet. He was a stickler for handsome clothes, spotless linen and the last detail of ceremony.
Again the minutes dragged. The tick of the clock on the mantel rang through the silent room and the face of the younger man grew red with rage.
Unable to endure the insolence of a subordinate toward the great Chieftain, whom he loved with a boy's blind devotion, Hay sprang to his feet:
The big hand was quietly raised in a gesture of command and he sank into his seat.
Five minutes more passed and the sound of approaching footsteps were heard quickly, firmly pressed with military precision.
But instead of the General the handsome figure of his aide, John Vaughan, appeared in the doorway:
"The General begs me to say, Mr. President, that he is too much fatigued to see any one this evening and has retired for the night."
The orderly stepped pompously to the door to usher them out and John Vaughan bowed and returned to his commander.
Hay sprang to his feet livid with rage and spoke to his Chief with boyish indignation.
"You are not going to take this insult from him?"
The tall figure slowly rose and stood in silence.
"Remove him from his command," the younger man pleaded. "For God's sake do it now. Write the order for his removal this minute--give it to me! I'll kick his door open and hand it to him."
The deep set dreamy eyes were turned within as he said in slow intense tones:
"No--I'll hold McClellan's horse for him if he'll give us one victory!"
The struggle opened with disaster for the Union army. Though Lee's plan of campaign fell by accident into McClellan's hands, it was too late to frustrate the first master stroke. Relying on Jackson's swift, bewildering marches, Lee, in hostile territory and confronted by twice his numbers, suddenly divided his army and hurled Jackson's corps against Harper's Ferry. The garrison, after a futile struggle of two days, surrendered twelve thousand five hundred and twenty men and their vast stores of war material.