It is certain that the battle had not
raged long when our army was in a state of uncertainty and
confusion. Sometimes the fight was between different brigades or
divisions of our own troops, who were as often brought face to face.
The enemy liked this, for it helped him to fight the battle without
reinforcements, and saved him a deal of trouble and loss. When we
had got a great many men killed in this way, and a great many more
severely hurt, the great question arose as to who had won the
battle, and who got whipped. There can be little doubt as to the
impression made on General Lee's mind on this point. General Hooker
was sure he had gained a great victory, and yet he was not so sure.
I say he was not so sure, since he found it necessary, before
settling the question, to withdraw his army to his old quarters on
the other side of the river. It is clear that the general's
reflections would be less disturbed in his old quarters, and, with a
river separating him from the enemy, he could form a more correct
judgment as to whether he had beaten the enemy, or the enemy had
beaten him. Feeling, however, that it would not do to let it get out
that the enemy had beaten him, he resolved that it must be true that
he had beaten the enemy.
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