The worst of these was that he could
not find the troops he was sent to command. Nor could he get any
tidings concerning General Early and his rebels. Hence it was that
he concluded, and very naturally, that the enemy would not be within
sight of the defenses until morning, and that the city would at
least be safe until that time without any more of his generalship.
He therefore went into camp for the night, pitching his headquarters
in a clump of wood near Rock Creek, and not far from Crystal Spring.
And here let me record that the general had not even a camp guard.
To make the matter worse, there was no forage for the horses, and
nothing for supper. Never was general so much to be pitied. The two
orderlies, however, were willing fellows, and soon had a fire
lighted. They then proceeded to a neighboring house, and got
refreshments for the general, without which he must have gone hungry
to bed.
As the night advanced, the discomforts of the situation increased.
In short, it may as well be confessed, the general's headquarters
were besieged long before midnight, and that sleep was a thing not
to be enjoyed.
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