May 23, 1862
In the morning, President Lincoln meets General Irvin McDowell at Aquia Creek. They move by train to Fredericksburg, where President Lincoln reviews troops. About 9 PM, the president begins return trip to Washington. He orders McDowell to protect Washington by coordinating with Union troops being overrun in the Shenandoah Valley – rather than continuing with his advance toward Richmond to support troops under General George B. McClellan. Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase recalled: “On Friday, May 23d., the President and Secretary of War visited the army at Fredericksburg and returned to Washington on Saturday morning, highly gratified by the condition of the troops and anticipating an imposing and successful advance on the Monday following.”
The same day at Front Royal in the Shenandoah Valley, Confederate General Stonewall Jackson routs a smaller force commanded by Union General Nathaniel Banks. Confederate troops pursue Banks’ soldiers.
Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War 
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