command of the defenses, north as well as south of the Potomac. The
troops were drilled constantly, and soon became good artillerists.
They were also instructed in and soon became efficient in the art of
defending forts. They studied well, and became familiar with the
ground in their front; and, what was more than all, they knew their
guns, and how to fight them. I have been very particular concerning
these things, my son, because I desire to impress you with their
future importance.

But alas for the instability of human resolutions! Washington was to
be exposed, after all.

You will remember, my son, how everybody was seized with admiration
at the ease with which the great General Grant picked up the Army of
the Potomac, and moved off with it against the rebels. That was in
the month of May, 1864. It was then that the army moved against
Richmond for the last time: that is, not to return to us until it
had captured that rebel stronghold.

Grant had not gone far when he met a more stubborn resistance than
he had expected, fought a number of desperate and bloody battles,
and lost a great many men. Fight and move forward, was his motto, so
he resolved not to turn his face towards Washington and his back
towards Richmond, as others had done before him. The terrible waste
of human life that followed his battles, found him in want of
recruits. No reserves of any consequence had been organized, and the
government were sorely troubled to find men to fill the thinned
ranks of our heroic army. Where were these men to be got from in
time to be of service?