It had not been many months since he took
his great army by sea for what seemed to be the certain capture of
Richmond, but McClellan, although a very young man for so high a position,
had already changed much. His face was thinner, and it seemed to Dick
that he had lost something of his confident look. The awful Seven Days
and his bitter disappointment had left their imprint. Nevertheless he
was trim, neat and upright, and always wore a splendid uniform. An
unfailing favorite with the soldiers, they cheered him as he passed,
and he would raise his hat, a flush of pride showing through the tan of
his cheeks.
"If a general, after being defeated, can still retain the confidence of
his army he must have great qualities of some kind," said Dick to Colonel
Winchester.
"That's true, Dick. McClellan lost at the Seven Days, and he has just
taken over an army that was trapped and beaten under Pope, but behold the
spirits of the men, although the Second Manassas is only a few days away.
McClellan looks after the private soldier, and if he could only look
after an army in the way that he organizes it this war would soon be
over.
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