President summons Gen. McClellan to White House at 7:30 A.M. Reports rumor that McClellan intends to turn capital and government over to enemy. McClellan protests. Lincoln disclaims intent to accuse him. McClellan, War for Union, 195.

Asks Asst. Sec. Fox to go to Fortress Monroe, Va., and report on situation. Fox, Diary, Gist-Blair Family Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Meets with division commanders at White House after they voted eight to four in favor of McClellan's plan for peninsular campaign. Journal, Samuel P. Heintzelman Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; The Annals of the War, Written by Leading Participants North and South, Originally Published in the Philadelphia Weekly Times (Philadelphia, PA: Times Publishing, 1879), 72-81.

Issues General War Order No. 2: "That the Major General commanding the Army of the Potomac proceed forthwith to organize that part of said Army destined to enter upon active operations (including the reserve, but excluding the troops to be left in the fortifications about Washington) into four Army corps." President's General War Order No. 2, 8 March 1862, CW, 5:149-50.

Issues General War Order No. 3: "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." President's General War Order No. 3, 8 March 1862, CW, 5:151.

Appoints 11 persons "Cadets to the Military Academy at West Point for the year 1862." Abraham Lincoln to Joseph G. Totten, 8 March 1862, CW, 5:152.