He, too, was
learning how to be a soldier and he was not above asking advice now and
then of a certain Sergeant Whitley who had the judgment to give it in
the manner befitting one of his lowly rank.
The summer days passed slowly on. The heat was intense. The Virginia
hills and plains fairly shimmered under the burning rays of the sun.
But still they delayed. Congress had shown the greatest courage,
meeting on the very day that the news of Bull Run had come, and
resolving to fight the war to a successful end, no matter what happened.
But while McClellan was drilling and preparing, the public again began
to call for action. "On to Richmond!" was the cry, but despite it the
army did not yet move.
European newspapers came in, and almost without exception they sneered
at the Northern troops, and predicted the early dissolution of the
Union. Monarchy and privileged classes everywhere rejoiced at the
disaster threatening the great republic, and now that it was safe to do
so, did not hesitate to show their delight. Sensitive and proud of his
country, Dick was cut to the quick, but Warner was more phlegmatic.
"Let 'em bark," he said. "They bark because they dislike us, and they
dislike us because they fear us. We threatened Privilege when our
Revolution succeeded and the Republic was established. The fact of our
existence was the threat and the threat has increased with our years and
growth. Europe is for the South, but the reason for it is one of the
simplest problems in mathematics.
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