"
But Colonel Winchester shook his head.
"It would never do," he said. "All Europe, eager to see the Union split,
would then help the Confederacy in every possible manner. The old
monarchies would say that despite our superior numbers we're not able to
maintain ourselves outside the defenses of Washington. And these things
would injure us in ways that we cannot afford. Remember, Dick, my boy,
that this republic is the hope of the world, and that we must save it."
"It will be done, sir," said Dick, almost in the tone of a young prophet.
"I know the spirit of the men. No matter how many defeats are inflicted
upon us by our own brethren we'll triumph in the end."
"It's my own feeling, Dick. It cannot, it must not be any other way!"
Dick remained upborne by a confidence in the future rather than in the
present, and throughout the morning he remained with his comrades,
under arms, but doing little, save to hear the fitful firing which ran
along a front of several miles. But later in the day a heavy crash came
from a ford further up the stream.
Under cover of a great artillery fire Stuart's cavalry dashed into the
ford, and drove off the infantry and a battery posted to defend it.
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