loss of his wardrobe. It has been hinted that he returned to
Washington a much wiser general than when he left it.

The nation was again brought to grief, and fear and disorder reigned
in Washington. People were heard to say that Pope had made a
prodigious failure, and was not the general we took him for, or he
never would have let his army run away from him in this way. Others
declared he had opened the gates of the city to the enemy, and
invited him to walk in. And it was not with feelings of
encouragement that they saw gunboats move up and take position where
they could check the enemy's approach. Never did general lose his
laurels so quickly. Indeed, my son, when he returned to Washington,
with little else than his saddle, there was not a dog to bark him a
welcome, nor a chambermaid to wave a napkin in his honor.

Timid people fancied every hour of the day that they could see the
rebel army deploying over the hills of Arlington, and loud calls
were made for a general who could save us. But we had something
better than a mere general to save us. We had the grim and silent
strength of the forts. And these the enemy dare not approach. Their
effect on the enemy was manifest and he turned aside from them, and
passed up into Maryland, victorious and defiant.

I ought to tell you, my son, that while Pope was illustrating the
beauties of his new plan at the front, and bringing confusion on our
arms, General George arrived with his good old army of the Potomac,
which still loved him, still worshipped him as its hero. And just
when he was most needed, to save Pope from his disaster, the
government relieved him of his command, as if to increase the
confusion already prevailing. The army felt this as a slight offered