But it was all to no effect.
Most of these men afterward proved themselves as gallant as any of those who saved the battle from which they had deserted.

I have no doubt that this sight impressed General Buell with the idea that a line of retreat would be a good thing just then.

If he had come in by the front instead of through the stragglers in the rear, he would have thought and felt differently.

Could he have come through the Confederate rear, he would have witnessed there a scene similar to that at our own.

The distant rear of an army engaged in battle is not the best place from which to judge correctly what is going on in front.