Yes, my son,
such was the feeble condition of the defenses when General Early and
his rebel army came in sight of the dome of the Capitol. We all
looked confidently for an attack in force on Tuesday morning. Had it
been made by a column of ten thousand men, led by a bold and
determined commander, capable of infusing his own impulse into their
movements, they might, feebly garrisoned as the forts were at that
moment (with no support between or behind them), have treated our
defenses with contempt, and marched into the city.
Yes, my son, they could have marched almost unmolested between any
two of the forts, entered the city, seized the Arsenal, the Capitol,
the Treasury, and other public buildings, and enjoyed a bounteous
breakfast at the expense of our citizens. And when they had done
this, they might have enforced a legitimate surrender of the city,
together with the defenses on both sides of the river.
But General Jubal A. Early was not the man for such an enterprise.
Washington was at his mercy, but fortunately for us he did not know
it, and let the opportunity slip. Even had he known it, I am of
opinion that he lacked the nerve to grasp the advantages of the
opportunity.
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