Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.3of9.Forever.Free.' (July 8, 1862, at 23:26)

(Tuesday, July 8, 1862, Lincoln arrives at Harrison’s landing at 6:00 p.m. local time; during the American Civil War) — Six days after Army of the Potomac retreated to the safety of Harrison’s Landing on the James River in Virginia, following the Seven Days Battles, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln visited Maj. Gen. George McClellan tonight aboard USS Ariel to assess the Union strategy.

When Lincoln first arrived, McClellan presented his Harrison Bar Letter of July 7, 1862, which dealt not so much with military matters, but with McClellan’s strong feelings as to the political handling of the rebellion.

The key passage of McClellan’s letter: “This rebellion has assumed the character of a War…It should not be, at all, a War upon population; but against armed forces and political organizations. Neither confiscation of property, political executions of persons, territorial organization of states, or forcible abolition of slavery should be contemplated for a moment…Military power should not be allowed to interfere with the relations of servitude…A declaration of radical views, especially upon slavery, will rapidly disintegrate our present Armies.”

Lincoln did not comment on the letter at the time.