The leaves fell faster and sharp winds blew, bringing with them chill rains.

Little Mac, or the Young Napoleon, as many of his friends loved to call him, continued his preparations, and despite all the urgings of President and Congress, would not move.

His fatal defect now showed in all its destructiveness.

To him the enemy always appeared threefold his natural size.
Reliable scouts brought back the news that the Southern troops at Manassas, a full two months after their victory there, numbered only forty thousand.

The Northern commander issued statements that the enemy was before him with one hundred and fifty thousand soldiers.