The two armies still faced each other, the Northerners protected by the strong fortifications they had thrown up round Washington--fortifications much too formidable to be attacked by the Confederates, held as they were by a force immensely superior to their own, both in numbers and arms.
The Northerners were indeed hard at work, collecting and organizing an army which was to crush out the rebellion.

General Scott had been succeeded by McClellan in the supreme command, and the new general was indefatigable in organizing the vast masses of men raised in the North.
So great were the efforts that, in a few months after the defeat of Bull Run, the North had 650,000 men in arms.
But while no move had at present been made against Virginia there was sharp fighting in some of the border States, especially in Missouri and Kentucky, in both of which public opinion was much divided, and regiments were raised on both sides.
Various operations were now undertaken by the Federal fleet at points along the coast, and several important positions were taken and occupied, it being impossible for the Confederates to defend so long a line of seacoast.

The South had lost rather than gained ground in consequence of their victory at Bull Run.

For a time they had been unduly elated, and were altogether disposed to underrate their enemies and to believe that the struggle was as good as over.

Thus, then, they made no effort at all corresponding to the North; but as time went on, and they saw the vastness of the preparations made for their conquest, the people of the Southern States again bestirred themselves.
Owing to the North having the command of the sea, and shutting up all the principal ports, they had to rely upon themselves for everything, while the North could draw arms and ammunition and all the requisites of war from the markets of Europe.