Could they never win a big victory in the
east? The men were brave and tenacious. They had proved it over and
over again, but they were always mismanaged. It seemed to him that they
were never sent to the right place at the right time.
Nevertheless, many of the Northern generals, able and patriotic, achieved
great deeds before the dawn of that momentous morning. Messengers
were riding in the darkness in a zealous attempt to gather the forces
together. There was yet abundant hope that they could crush Jackson
before Lee came, and in the darkness brigade after brigade marched toward
Warrenton.
Dick, after tasting all the bitterness of retreat, felt his hopes rise
again. They had not really been beaten. They had fought a superior
force of Jackson's own men to a standstill. He could never forget that.
He cherished it and rolled it under his tongue. It was an omen of what
was to come. If they could only get leaders of the first rank they would
soon end the war.
He found himself laughing aloud in the anticipation of what Pope's Army
of Virginia would do in the coming day to the rebels.
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