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Chapter 18: the battle of South Mountain
Could the reader have seen with
Mr. Lincoln's eyes-sad, earnest, deep, penetrating as they were — the condition of the
Republic on September 2d and 3d, when the
Union army with broken ranks and haggard looks came straggling and discouraged to the protection of the encircling forts of
Washington, he would have realized the crisis.
Divisions in councilenvy and accusation among military leaders, unsatisfied ambition struggling for the ascendency-waves of terror gathering force as they rolled from
Washington through
Maryland and
Pennsylvania northwarda triumphant, hostile army, well organized, well officered, and great in numbers, under a chief of acknowledged character and ability, within twenty miles of the capital-these served to blow the crackling embers, and fan the consuming flame.
But
Abraham Lincoln, who cried to God for strength, was equal to this emergency.
He brought
Halleck over to his mind.
He checked the secret and open work of his ministers which he deemed too abrupt; he silenced the croakings of the war committees of Congress; he stirred all truly loyal hearts by cogent appeals to send forward men and money; he buried his personal preferences and called back
McClellan, his former though fretful lieutenant.
from the position of
