Then an evil hour came. The nation got in an impatient mood. And
while General George was hardening the constitution of his army on
the banks of the Potomac, a great many restless, discontented, and
evil-disposed persons sprang up, declared that he was no general at
all, and that to command armies was the business of politicians, not
soldiers. During war every nation has its mischievous men, who, to
create notoriety for themselves, make war in their own way on the
great soldiers who are struggling to preserve its honor. These men
were our misfortune. They proceeded to make war on General George,
to persecute him, and to destroy his usefulness with the army. These
men affected to know a great deal about war; but I noticed, my son,
that they were very unwilling to shoulder a musket and face the
enemy. They wanted General George to move on in the middle of
winter, drive Mr. Beauregard out of Manassas, and take Richmond. And
all this while the mud was so deep that he could not drag his wagons
through it. George very sensibly refused to destroy his army in this
way. Indeed, he foresaw that to follow their advice would be to
bring the nation to grief a second time.
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