Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 1.djvu/458

420 without delay. A determined effort was made to cast the blame of the battle upon General Scott, but in his own defense he at once declared that he had fought the battle against his judgment. He said in the presence of Washburne, Logan, McClernand and Richardson, who were conferring with President Lincoln and the secretary of war, &quot;After my superiors had determined to fight it, I did all in my power to make the army efficient. Mr. Lincoln replied: Your conversation seems to imply that I forced you to fight this battle. To which General Scott responded: &quot; I have never served a President who has been kinder to me than you have been. This evasive answer was accepted as an exoneration of the President, but the secretary of war and the cabinet generally were understood as having insisted on a forward movement and a successful battle at that time. Mr. Richardson, of Illinois, in addressing the House on this question, said:

&quot;Mr. Speaker, standing here in my place, I desire to say of Abraham Lincoln If you let him alone he is an honest man; but I am afraid he has not the will to stand up against the wily politicians who surround him and knead him to their purposes.&quot;

The Southern people were enthusiastic in their first congratulations at the result of this great encounter of the armies, but as they learned more of the disintegration of McDowell s army there was much criticism of the cessation of pursuit. It appeared to many that Maryland might have been occupied, Washington captured and the war ended. The question, however, may never be settled, since even the participating generals and intelligent civil officials disagree. It is in evidence, however, that the Southern army lacked sufficient cavalry, that the troops had been engaged for two days and sank down in weariness to rest at midnight after their great victory, that they fought their battle against odds and it was not known, even the next day, that the rout was so complete. Besides, heavy rains set in, rendering the Virginia roads