“You count upon your resources, Harold, like a purse-proud millionaire, who boasts his bursting coffers.  We depend rather upon our determined hearts and resolute right hands.  Upon our power to endure, greater than yours to inflict, reverse.  Upon our united people, and the spirit that animates them, which can never be subdued.  The naked Britons could defend their native soil against Caesar’s legions, the veterans of a hundred fights.  Shall we do less, who have already tasted the fruits of liberty so dearly earned?  Harold, your people have assumed an impossible task, and you may as well go cast your treasures into the sea as squander them in arms to smite your kith and kin.  We are Americans, like yourselves; and when you confess that you can be conquered by invading armies, then dream of conquering us.”

“And we will startle you from your dream with the crack of our Southern rifles,” added Oriana, somewhat maliciously, while Harold smiled at her enthusiasm.

“There is a great deal of romance in both your natures,” he replied.  “But it is not so good as powder for a fighting medium.  The spirit you boast of will not support you long without the aid of good round dollars.”

“Thank heaven we have less faith in their efficacy than you Northern gold-worshippers,” observed Oriana, with playful sarcasm.  “While our soldiers have good round corn-cakes, they will ask for no richer metals than lead and steel.  Have you never heard of the regiment of Mississippians, who, having received their pay in government certificates, to a man tore up the documents as they took up the line of march, saying ‘we do not fight for money?’”

Harold smiled, thinking perhaps that nothing better could have been done with the currency in question.

“I think,” said Beverly, “you are far out of the way in your estimate of our resources.  The South is strictly an agricultural country, and as such, best able to support itself under the exhaustion consequent upon a lengthened warfare, especially as it will remain in the attitude of resistance to invasion.  From the bosom of its prolific soil it can draw its natural nourishment and retain its vigor throughout any period of isolation, while you are draining your resources for the means of providing an active aggressive warfare.  The rallying of our white population to the battle field will not interrupt the course of agricultural pursuit, while every enlistment in the North will take one man away from the tillage of the land or from some industrial avocation.”

“Not so,” replied Harold.  “Our armies for the most part will be recruited from the surplus population, and abundant hands will remain behind for the purposes of industry.”

“At first, perhaps.  But not after a few more such fields as were fought on Sunday last.  To carry out even a show of your project of subjugation, you must keep a million of men in the field from year to year.  Your manufacturing interests will be paralyzed, your best customers shut out.  You will be spending enormously and producing little beyond the necessities of consumption.  We, on the contrary, will be producing as usual, and spending little more than before.”