easy chair, must needs show the people what faith he had in his new
plan. So he ordered little George to pack up his baggage, stop
knocking at the enemy's back door, and bring his army back to
Washington on transports. Of course the rebels were very thankful to
him for this act of kindness, as it evinced a disposition to conduct
the war for their benefit. With General George and his army on their
way to Washington by ship, Richmond was no longer besieged. And then
the rebel army was at liberty to go where it pleased. And it very
soon pleased General Lee to march it against Washington at a rapid
pace, and over the shortest road. We had an army at sea, and a
number of others we did not know just exactly where. So things
military began to get so confused that the people did not understand
them. They were requested to be patient, however, and patient they
had to be.

Well, my son, we brought the scattered battalions we had on their
front together at the forts, and soon formed a good fighting army.
But where was the new general to lead it to victory for us? The
government cast about it for a man, and at last fixed its eye on
Pope. He was the shining star among generals, the man to take the
buckrum out of the rebels for us. And it was said of this great
general that he possessed uncommon virtues. His friends laid
numerous feats of valor at his door, and the whole history of war
was ransacked to find another such a hero. He had captured Islands,
whipped rebel armies (I have forgotten how many), and bagged
invisible prisoners enough to satisfy a Napoleon. This great
general, too, was remarkable for his modesty; and he was also a man
of strict veracity. Yes, my son, considering the times, he was a
rare example of a man who never boasts of his achievements, nor
claims a feather that belongs to another man's cap. Such were the