The nation recovered from its disappointment, the sky brightened,
the people began to send into the capital troops of a different
sort, and the general we had put our faith in went to work making an
army--the grand old Army of the Potomac. Now, my son, it was no small
job to make an army, and when you have made it to so improve its
drill and discipline that it will stand firm and fight well. It is
just as necessary, my son, to harden the constitution of a new army
as it is to so sharpen its digestion that it will relish the
coarsest of fare. And you can do neither of these things in a day.
You must also cultivate and improve the courage of a new army. And
this can only be done by experience in the field. General George
taught his army to do all these things, and do them well. And the
nation felt grateful to him for what he was doing, and sang songs in
his praise. And the army respected and loved General George. And
General George loved and was proud of his army. The sky of our hopes
brightened then, and the nation rejoiced and felt strong again. We
all felt that when spring came Mr. Beauregard and his men would be
driven to the wall; that we should march on and take Richmond; and
that General George was just the man to do it all for us.
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