Lee awaits McClellan’s attack at Sharpsburg, 1862
September Nineteenth
As a deputation from New England was one day leaving the White House, a delegate turned round and said: “Mr. President, I should much like to know what you reckon to be the number the rebels have in arms against us?”
Without a moment’s hesitation Mr. Lincoln replied: “Sir, I have the best possible reason for knowing the number to be one million of men, for whenever one of our generals engages a rebel army he reports that he has encountered a force twice his strength. I know we have half a million soldiers, so I am bound to believe that the rebels have twice that number.”
Lieut.-Col. G. F. R. Henderson, C.B.
Lee repulses attempted advance across the Potomac after Antietam, 1862
First day at Chickamauga, 1863
September Twentieth