With recent scandals over military contracts still holding the public eye, Secretary of War Stanton appointed a Special Commission on Ordnance and Ordnance Stores headed by former war secretary Joseph Holt and Democratic diplomat and past Indiana congressman Robert Dale Owen, the son of the famous British socialist. The commission began its meetings on March 17, 1862 and in all took up 104 cases of suspected fraud, saving the Union millions of dollars in adjusted contracts.  (By John Osborne) 

Beginning in January, Abraham Lincoln had issued a series of historic orders involving the direction of the war. The President was to become Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, General McClellan had been ordered on February 22, 1862 to make immediate preparations to move on a full scale invasion of the Confederate States, and, on March 8, 1862, the Army had been ordered to organize itself into five corps each of at least three divisions.  Finally, McClellan was named field commander of the upcoming invasion and was removed from overall command of the Army.  (By John Osborne)   

Eight months after their disastrous defeat in that area at Bull Run, Union troops reoccupied Manassas, Virginia unopposed by Confederate forces who had abandoned the important railroad junction days earlier. The retreating southerners had taken great pains to destroy track, stores, and installations but the occupation of the junction was an important morale boost and was received with celebration throughout the North. (By John Osborne)