whipping the rebels up in Northern Virginia. We felt sure that he
was the man who would whip the rebels for us, and gain us victories;
who would dispel the gloom hanging over the land, and bring us
plenty of sunshine. Indeed, my son, the nation began to feel very
happy in the possession of such a man; for, according to the
newspapers, he had displayed remarkable military traits when only a
boy, such as great attention to the study of maps, and the making of
little dirt piles. It was also added that while yet a youth he was
very obedient to his father, and affectionately fond of his mother.
And these excellent traits of character, in one so young, it was
held by our wise men, must, when improved and enlarged by manhood,
make the man, who had given his mind to the study of arms a great
general. So, my son, you see what an opportunity there is before
you.

Well, George came to us flush from the field of his glories, and we
proceeded at once to make him a hero before he had made us an army.
The nation recovered from its disappointment, the sky brightened,
the people began to send into the capital troops of a different
sort, and the general we had put our faith in went to work making an
army--the grand old Army of the Potomac. Now, my son, it was no small
job to make an army, and when you have made it to so improve its
drill and discipline that it will stand firm and fight well. It is
just as necessary, my son, to harden the constitution of a new army
as it is to so sharpen its digestion that it will relish the
coarsest of fare. And you can do neither of these things in a day.
You must also cultivate and improve the courage of a new army. And
this can only be done by experience in the field. General George
taught his army to do all these things, and do them well. And the
nation felt grateful to him for what he was doing, and sang songs in