The worn and melancholy President felt that a triumphant issue of the war was at hand.

The Secretary of War was more than sanguine, and the people in the city joyfully expected speedy news of the fall of Richmond.

McClellan was advancing with an overwhelming force on the Southern capital, and the few regiments of Jackson were lost somewhere in the mountains.

In the west all things were going well under Grant.
It was only a few who, recognizing that the army of Jackson was lost to Northern eyes, began to ask questions about it.

But they were laughed down.