So he turned round and thrashed the enemy right soundly at Savage's
Station, at White Oak Swamp, and at Malvern Hill--just to show that
he could do it. These are places, my son, you shall read of in
history. And the glories of the battles fought at them shall become
brighter and brighter as we contemplate them; and new lustre will
shed on the names of the officers who fought them, and set such
noble examples of courage to their men. It was George's misfortune
that he fought these battles and gained these victories while his
army was moving backward instead of forward--while seeking a place of
safety instead of driving the enemy to seek one. This makes a great
difference with the public, which does not generally study the rules
of strategy, and does not like to see an army fall back after it has
gained what its commander claims to be a great victory.






CHAPTER VII.

POPE DID IT.





HERE, my son, you have an exact portrait of the great general who
was brought to Washington to command all our armies, and to keep us