The country between the Potomac and the James was cut up by rivers, as the Rappahannock, the Mattapony, and Pamunkey, and part of it was a wilderness. 在波特马克河和詹姆斯河之间的陆地上有几条河流，如拉帕汉诺克河、迈特坡尼河和帕门基河，这块陆地的一部分是荒野。

McClellan planned to carry his troops by water to the peninsula between the James and the York and Pamunkey rivers. 麦克道威尔的计划是带领部队从水路赶到詹姆斯河、约克河与帕门基河之间的半岛，

He would then have a clear road to Richmond, with no great rivers to dispute with the enemy. 随后他们就有一条通往里士满的大路，沿途没有敌军依托大河进行抵抗。

Johnston would be obliged to leave his camp at Bull Run and march southward to the defense of Richmond. 约翰斯顿必须要离开他在布尔郎的营地，向南进军去防御保护里土满。

The great objection to the plan was that Johnston might attack Washington instead of going to face McClellan. 这个计划的最大反对意见是，约翰斯顿可能攻击华盛顿而不是去迎战麦克里兰；

General Jackson also was in the Shenandoah Valley. 杰克森将军也在雪伦多亚河谷，

He might march down the Valley, cross the Potomac, and seize Washington. 他可以沿着山谷下行，穿过波特马克并夺取华盛顿。

So the government kept seventy-five thousand of McClellan's men for the defense of the Federal capital. 因此，政府留下麦克里兰的7.5万士兵保护联邦首都。

391. The Monitor and the Merrimac. 391．"莫里特"号与"梅里麦克"号

On March 8 a queer-looking craft steamed out from Norfolk, Virginia, and attacked the Union fleet at anchor near Fortress Monroe. 3月8日，一艘看起来非常奇怪的船驶出弗吉尼亚的诺福克港，它向停泊在门罗要塞的联邦舰队发起攻击，

She destroyed two wooden frigates, the Cumberland and the Congress, and began the destruction of the Minnesota. 摧毁两艘木制护卫舰--"坎伯兰"号和"宪法"号，并开始去摧毁"明尼苏达"号，

She then steamed back to Norfolk. This formidable vessel was the old frigate Merrimac. 随后它驶回诺福克。这个可怕的军舰是过去的护卫舰"梅里麦克"号，

Upon her decks the Confederates had built an iron house. 南方同盟的人在它的甲板上装上了铁甲，

From these iron sides the balls of the Union frigates rolled harmlessly away. 联邦护卫舰的炮弹被挡在铁甲之外，它毫发未伤。