The newspapers abused Lincoln because the war, instead of being finished in three months, seemed likely to last for years. For long his own Cabinet was hardly loyal to him: each member thought he could manage affairs better himself. Seward, who was Chief Secretary, thought Lincoln stupid, and was anxious to arrange everything; but as experience of his chief taught him he became Lincoln’s devoted admirer. Chase the Treasurer plotted against him: Stanton the War Secretary openly declared that “things would go all right but for the imbecile at the head.” Stanton had no sense of humour, and an ungovernable temper. He did not understand Lincoln at all for a long time: his jokes puzzled and annoyed him, and he used to jump up and down with rage. He did not see that to a man of a deeply melancholy nature like Lincoln, a dreamer and something of a poet, some outlet, some way of escaping from himself, was necessary. Lincoln was marvellously patient with Stanton, and won his deep affection. The Cabinet might criticise; but Lincoln’s firm will dominated them all. The policy of the Government was the President’s policy. No quality is so hard to appreciate, until it succeeds, as patience; and for two years Lincoln was patient, and few understood. England and France were inclined to recognise the Confederacy. The English point of view was not one which reflected any glory on the nation. Lord Palmerston said, “We do not like slavery, but we want cotton.” And a poem in _Punch_ expressed the general point of view, against which only a few Englishmen protested-- “Though with the North we sympathise, It must not be forgotten That with the South we’ve stronger ties, Which are composed of cotton, Whereof our imports mount unto A sum of many figures; And where would be our calico But for the toil of niggers?” France agreed with England. Under such circumstances there was a great danger that, unless the North proved itself able to cope with the Rebellion, England or France might send help to the Confederates. For two years the North did not prove this; for two years it seemed, except to the very far-seeing, almost certain that the South would win. The Northern plan of campaign was to attack and close round the Confederacy: to do this it was necessary to cross the Potomac river, and clear away the Southern armies that blockaded it. The Potomac was the centre of operations, while fighting went on constantly in Virginia and Missouri. Everything went against the North. On the 9th of August a desperate encounter took place at Wilson’s Creek, at which the Union army lost nearly two thousand men, including prisoners, and large supplies of arms and ammunition. In September the Confederates won a victory at Lexington, and in October the Federal troops were defeated at Ball’s Bluff.