The officers and soldiers now felt that they were going to face a man who was far less of a match for Lee and Jackson than McClellan had been, and McClellan himself had been unequal to the task.

They were anxious to meet Burnside.

They heard that he was honest and had no overweening opinion of his own abilities.

He did not wish to be put in the place of McClellan, preferring to remain a division or corps commander.
"Then, if that's so," said Sherburne, "we've won already.

If a man thinks he's not able to lead the Army of the Potomac, then he isn't.
Anyhow, we'll quickly see what will happen." But again it was not as soon as they had had expected.