Two or three of these generals seemed quite at a loss as to
where they were going, or what they were to command. I have thus
explained this matter to you, my son, to show you what a nice way
our war authorities had of producing confusion.
When the general and his staff, which I have described above, were
well nigh Brightwood, he halted to inquire, of the alarmed negroes
and straggling citizens who were wending their way into the city,
what news they had of the enemy outside. But no trustworthy
information could he get from any of them. They all knew that
General Early was coming; and that they had left just before he had
got to where they lived. This sort of information was not exactly
the kind a general would consider it safe to base his plan of
operations on. Nor was the general any more fortunate in getting
information concerning the enemy from a number of squads of cavalry,
whose business it seemed to be to ride excitedly to the front and
then ride excitedly back again. Indeed, the whole business of these
doughty troopers, it seemed to me, was to increase the alarm and
confusion.
It was nearly sundown, the weather was hot and oppressive, and the
general was full of troubles.
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