With only a last chance left to him he had turned defeat into complete victory, and had dealt a stunning blow to the Southern Confederacy, which was never able like the North to fill up its depleted ranks with fresh men.
Time alone could reveal to many the deadly nature of this blow, but Dick, who had foresight and imagination, understood it now at least in part.

As he saw the hungry Southern boys sharing the food of their late enemies his mind traveled over the long Southern line.

Thomas had beaten it in Eastern Kentucky, Grant had dealt it a far more crushing blow here in Western Kentucky, but Albert Sidney Johnston, the most formidable foe of all, yet remained in the center.

He was a veteran general with a great reputation.

Nay, more, it was said by the officers who knew him that he was a man of genius.