President Lincoln, with his secretary John Hay and Secretary of State William Seward, made an evening call at new Army chief George B. McClellan's town house a few blocks from the White House on an important matter. McClellan was attending a wedding but was expected to return shortly so the group waited. When the general came in, he made his way upstairs unnoticed and then sent word that he had retired for the night. Hoping for military success, Lincoln endured such arrogance for a year before losing patience and dismissing him. (By John Osborne)