His army was rising to forty thousand men, and officers like Colonel
Winchester began to feel apprehensive.
Now came a period of waiting. The Northern leaders, as happened so
often in this war, were uncertain of their authority, and were at
cross-purposes. They seldom had the power of initiative that was
permitted to the Southern generals, and of which they made such good
use. Dick saw that the impression made by Donelson was fading. The
North was reaping no harvest, and the South was lifting up its head
again.
While he was in Nashville he received a letter from his mother in reply
to one of his that he had written to her just after Donelson. She was
very thankful that her son had gone safely through the battle, and since
he must fight in war, which was terrible in any aspect, she was glad
that he had borne himself bravely. She was glad that Colonel Kenton had
escaped capture. Her brother-in-law was always good to her and was a
good man. She had also received a letter from his son, her nephew,
written from Richmond, She loved Harry Kenton, too, and sympathized with
him, but she could not see how both sides could prevail.
Dick read the letter over and over again and there was a warm glow about
his heart. What a brave woman his mother was! She said nothing about
his coming back home, or leaving the war. He wrote a long reply,
and he told her only of the lighter and more cheerful events that they
had encountered.
Pages:
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265