Although his Maryland friends set him up for a great hero, I
confess, as there was no one to oppose him, not to see in what his
heroism consisted.

As you may naturally suppose, my son, these little affairs increased
our alarm greatly. Our authorities, generally, went into a state of
perspiration; and would have sent for General Grant and his army to
come back and protect us, but for the fear that that general would
not read the order correctly. In short, they had already become
convinced that Grant was not the man to turn back when there was
anything to be made by going ahead. Then our high officials called
on the North for help, but called in vain. The North was not
inclined to share the fears of our high officials, and had been too
often sent for to come and take care of Washington.

It was common with us, then, to keep a lot of third-rate troops
scattered around Baltimore; and over Maryland. These were hastily
got together, and placed under the command of that famous warrior
Lew Wallace. The administration was sure, now, that Mr. Early would
get whipped, and that the capital would be saved. There were,
however, a few unbelieving people who shook their heads, and were
heard to say that General Wallace was not the soldier to drive Mr.
Early and his men into the Potomac.

I must do the general the credit, however, to say, that he marched
out boldly enough, and engaged Early and his men in battle as soon
as he met him. And although he had pluck enough, he was no match for
the rebel, who brushed him away before him, and sent his scattered
columns flying back into Baltimore, in great distress. Perhaps the
only sensible man surprised at this state of things was General