Some of our public men were for forgetting what those
sun-scorched, ragged, and fever-stricken heroes had done for us on
the Peninsula, and even for wiping out their record of heroism.
I confess it was to me a sad and touching sight to see these
soldiers, who had served their country so well, who had suffered in
swamps, and fought and defeated the enemy, treated with what seemed
to me criminal indifference in the very capital they had returned to
save. They muttered their discontent at the loss of their favorite
commander, but were ready again to go forth, struggle with the
enemy, and fight for the life of the nation. But not a voice was
raised by the government to thank them for what they had done, not a
cheer to welcome their return. You must know, my son, that the
government was dumb with fear. The ghost of its errors so haunted it
that its lips were sealed. The people looked on and saw it, in its
very feebleness, asking for stronger hands to come and help it out
of its trouble.
There was, my son, but one army and one general that could save the
nation then. General George was that man, and the army was the good
old Army of the Potomac.
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