Antietam, and form his army in line of battle. Indeed, he so far
mistook this movement as to believe it an attempt to get in his
rear.

This gleam of success, gained by Franklin, inspired the nation with
new hope. Yes, my son, and it cheered the hearts of our brave
soldiers, restored their strength, and gave them new confidence.
Then General George formed his army in line on the plains of
Antietam, and a great and bloody battle was fought, and the rebel
army beaten and put to flight. Pay no heed, my son, to what the
prejudiced may say of this battle. It was one of the greatest
battles fought during the war. All honor to the brave soldiers who
fought it. Our troops, too, were handled with great skill, and the
world never saw better generalship than our George displayed. Yes,
my son, Antietam was our Waterloo, fought at a time when the nation
needed a victory most; and the general who fought it ought never to
be forgotten by his country. When, then, George had gained this
victory for us, had beaten and driven the enemy from all his
positions, and caused the nation to rejoice, he halted to give his
brave soldiers rest and repair damages. His losses were great, and
he had compassion on his soldiers, for many of them were without
shoes and had little raiment. In truth, my son, these brave, abused,
and war-worn soldiers had only the well-worn shoes and clothes they
had made the campaign of the Peninsula in.

George pleaded the necessity of his soldiers as a reason for his
delay, and very justly. But this pleased neither the government nor
the politicians whose bitterest prejudices seemed to control it.
These gentlemen urged that he follow the enemy at once and capture
him, a piece of strategy not so easily accomplished as many think.