The exceeding tension of excitement, fright, untold fear, that had been drawn around them during the continuous struggle of the day before, had rendered those women callous and indifferent to all surrounding appearance; but their haggard faces told but too plainly their mental anguish and bodily suffering of yesterday.  The eyes tire of the sickening scene, and the mind turns from this revolting field of blood, and we return heartstricken to our camp.  The poor crippled and deserted horses limp over the field nibbling a little bunch of grass left green in places after the day of mad galloping of horses.  Everywhere we saw friends hunting friends.  Relief corps had come up from Richmond and were working night and day relieving the suffering and moving the wounded away.  Cars were run at short intervals from Manassas, carrying the disabled to Warrentown, Orange Court House, Culpepper, and Richmond.  President Davis had come up just after the battle had gone in our favor, and the soldiers were delighted to get a glimpse at our illustrious chieftain.  It was needless to say Beauregard’s star was still in the ascendant.

* * * * *

CHAPTER VI

Vienna—­Flint Hill—­Duel Sports—­July to October.

Much discussion has taken place since the rout at Manassas as to reasons for not following up the victory so gloriously won, and for not pushing on to Washington at once.  It is enough to say the two commanders at the time and on the field saw difficulties and dangers sufficient in the way to rest on their spoils.  The President, who was in council with them, after due consideration was convinced of the impracticability of a forward movement.  In the first place, no preparation had been made for such an event; that the spoils were so out of proportion to their most sanguine expectations; that the transportation for the troops had to be employed in its removal; that no thought of a forward movement or invasion had ever been contemplated; so there were no plans or specifications at hand.  Then again, the dead and wounded of both armies had to be attended to, which crippled our medical department so as to render it powerless should another engagement take place.  And again, a large portion of our people thought this total defeat of the enemy at the very outset of the war would render the design of coercion by force of arms impracticable.  The South was conservative, and did not wish to inflame the minds of the people of the Union by entering their territory or destroying their capital.  Knowing there was a large party at the North opposed to the war, some of our leaders had reason to think this shattering of their first grand army would so strengthen their feelings and party that the whole North would call for peace.  They further hugged that fatal delusion to their breast, a delusion that eventually shattered the foundation of our government and betrayed