Men had believed after the
Second Manassas that Lee might take Washington and this fear was not
decreased when he passed into Maryland on what seemed to be an invasion.
Many had begun to believe that he was invincible, that every Northern
commander whoever he might be, would be beaten by him, but Antietam,
although there were bitter complaints that Lee might have been destroyed
instead of merely being checked, had changed a sky of steel into a sky
of blue.
Washington was not only gay, it was brilliant. Life flowed fast and it
was astonishingly vivid. A restless society, always seeking something
new flitted from house to house. Dick, young and impressionable, would
have been glad to share a little in it, but his time was too short.
He went once with Colonel Winchester to the theatre, and the boy who
had thrice seen a hundred and fifty thousand men in deadly action hung
breathless over the mimic struggles of a few men and women on a painted
stage.
The second day after his arrival he received a letter from his mother
that had been awaiting him there. It had come by the way of Louisville
through the Northern lines, and it was long and full of news.
Pages:
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308