It was George's misfortune
that he fought these battles and gained these victories while his
army was moving backward instead of forward--while seeking a place of
safety instead of driving the enemy to seek one. This makes a great
difference with the public, which does not generally study the rules
of strategy, and does not like to see an army fall back after it has
gained what its commander claims to be a great victory.
CHAPTER VII.
POPE DID IT.
HERE, my son, you have an exact portrait of the great general who
was brought to Washington to command all our armies, and to keep us
from making any more military mistakes. He is presented to you just
as he sat in his easy chair, confounding the rules of war and
bringing confusion on the army. This great general, though he had
never fought a battle, except on paper, brought with him from the
West a new and much enlarged plan for taking Richmond.
General George was on the banks of the James River, with his army,
pointing with his sword toward Richmond, as the heart of the
rebellion, and offering to take it for us if we would only send him
twenty-five thousand fresh men, which very reasonable proposal we
declined.
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