and the politicians held it of more importance to destroy our own general than the rebel army.  The Government was just as fair as fair could be in making promises to General George.  But then the Government seemed to have a short memory, and forgot its promises almost as soon as it had made them.  It promised to send General McDowell, who was not far away, to help George fight the rebels and take Richmond.  But the Government forgot to do so; and instead, kept that gallant officer looking from the hills of Fredericksburg, to see if the rebels were coming in that direction.  To tell you the truth, my son, our Government was so afraid that the rebels would turn short around and take Washington, and make prisoners of its cabinet officers, that it made “look-out generals” of so many brave officers, who had troops under their command, that it had none to send General George to assist in taking Richmond.  It may however, be a consolation to us to know that this would not have been the first time, in the history of the world, that fear had cost a great nation its fortunes and its glories.

General George marched leisurely along with his brave army until he came within four miles of Richmond, where there was a great swamp called the Chickahominy.  The name of this swamp will be long remembered by our brave soldiers of the Army of the Potomac.  The rain fell like a deluge, and flooded it; and it gave out deadly fevers, which brought death and tribulation on our army.  And in this swamp our army fought the battle of Fair Oaks, and gained another grand victory over the enemy.  But we had no means of following up this victory, and so its effect was lost to us.  Then our army settled down into this deadly swamp, and wondered and waited for nearly a month, until our men got heart-sick and fever-stricken.  We watched the enemy on the hills beyond; and the enemy watched us in the swamp.  And we waited until the enemy had brought all his forces up into Richmond, and General Lee, his best general, had taken command.  Things began to look desperate with our George, and he began thinking how he should get safely out of the swamp and change his base.  How was he to fight Mr. Lee with all his strength, when the strength we ought to have sent him was kept at a safe distance looking on?  George saw that the glories of Williamsburg, of West Point, of Hanover Court House, and of Fair Oaks would have to be thrown away because the wisdom of the nation would not send us aid.

This, my son, was the day of our tribulation.  The people were strong, and the army represented the people.  I wish, my son, that I could say also that the Government was strong.  But the army, if it was sick, had not lost its courage, nor its love for the general who commanded it.