While, then, our distinguished engineer progressed in his work of
building forts, with a view to saving the city, the people of the
North, and the people of the great West, seeing that war was upon us
in all its stern reality, were much agitated as to what was best to
be done. They were a peaceable, prospering people, and much attached
to the Government that had conferred so many blessings on them. But
the fire of their patriotism had already been kindled; and they went
wisely to work adding fuel to it. The trumpet of war had sounded
over the land, their gallant militiamen came together, boldly and
earnestly. And these they sent to Washington, by regiments, to quiet
the fears of the people, and save the nation.

Now these gallant militiamen were very full of courage, and their
courage increased as their numbers multiplied in the capital, and
they sent word to Mr. Beauregard and his men that they would be out
there soon and thrash him out of Manassas. Some of these gallant men
came for thirty days, others for ninety, our wise rulers being
satisfied in their own mind that the latter number of days would be
quite enough to finish up the small job of putting down the
rebellion. These militiamen wore gay and many-colored uniforms, and
had the fat of the land for rations. They were the nation's favored
guests, and every man was set down for a gentleman and a hero, who
would as soon shed his blood for his country as eat his breakfast.
And these gallant militiamen were organized into a grand army, so
full of pomp and circumstance, that we were sure the enemy would run
away as soon as he saw it coming. But in order to make the thing
safe beyond peradventure, we gave the command of this grand army to
General McDowell, a man of solid parts, a gentleman, and a
soldier. Our wise political rulers at that time held to the idea