George pleaded the necessity of his soldiers as a reason for his
delay, and very justly. But this pleased neither the government nor
the politicians whose bitterest prejudices seemed to control it.
These gentlemen urged that he follow the enemy at once and capture
him, a piece of strategy not so easily accomplished as many think.
In short, we were in no position to follow the enemy until we got
shoes and raiment for our brave soldiers. Nor could we have added
much to our success by following General Lee and his men, who had an
open country before them, until we were well prepared to engage them
in another battle. When, however, George got his army ready, he
moved directly on the enemy, and his soldiers were in the best of
spirits, for we had got General Lee and his men in a position where
he would be compelled to fight another battle, with the advantages
in our favor. Now I don't say, my son, that George would have won
this battle, but by fighting it he would have exposed the enemy's
real weakness, and placed him in a very bad position. But the
government, as if more willing to promote the prejudices of
politicians than to preserve the honor of our arms, resolved not to
let George fight another battle.
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