Page:Harris Dickson--The unpopular history of the United States.djvu/152

The Unpopular History of the United States them, a regiment of infantry and a battery of artillery whose time had expired began their homeward march to the sound of the enemy's guns. That same day the Federal army was totally defeated.

Standing like a guide post above the rout, discipline and organization again proved their value. The battalion of regulars which covered the retreat was last to leave the field, checked the enemy's pursuit, and retired in perfect order. According to official reports, all of the Federal troops, except 800, were volunteers and militia. Some of the volunteers had been mustered into the service less than a month. The time of service of all the regiments of militia was about to expire. Any educated officers, knowing these conditions, must have seen the inevitable defeat which occurred at Bull Run.

There was no such thing as discipline. General Heintzleman, after passionate failures to rally his broken regiments, expressed himself as to their conduct: "The want of discipline in these regiments was so great [134]