“'That would seem to me to be the proper course for any commander of forces,' I replied.”
“Uncle Daniel,” said Dr. Adams, “I am curious to know what became of those two generals—Farlin and Fitzgibbon.”
“Well, sir, the same power that is now rewarding those who struck us the heaviest blows, both North and South, is paying homage to these men. They are both held in high esteem by many people, and you would think they were the only loyal men that were near the battlefield on that day.”
“Yes,” said Col. Bush; “to have lost an arm or leg on the Union side is like the brand of Cain nowadays; but to have been a rebel or to have belonged to the Golden Circle, or failed in some way by which the rebels profited or gained advantage, entitles one to a medal or some high position of honor and emolument.”
CHAPTER IX.
BATTLE OF ANTLER'S RUN—SERAINE WHITCOMB LEAVES FOR THE
SOUTH—PLOTTING IN CANADA—DISCOVERY OF A CONSPIRACY AMONG
ARMY OFFICERS.
“Yesterday was heard,
The roar of war; and sad the sight of maid,
Of mother, widow, sister, daughter, wife,
Stooping and weeping over senseless, cold,
Defaced, and mangled lumps of breathless earth,
Which had been husbands, fathers, brothers, sons,
And lovers, when that morning's sun arose.
—Pollock.
“Gen. Anderson, Peter and myself concluded that we would again visit the farm. There we found poor old Joseph Dent in utter despair on account of his 'poor Captain' (as he called David) having been killed. He talked of him in the most enthusiastic manner, and would then weep, saying 'the only friend I had is gone, and I will not be satisfied until I can get even with these rebels.'
“Gen. Anderson said: 'Well, Joseph, what will you do?'
“Joseph was silent; as an old soldier he knew how to keep his thoughts to himself.