Do you ever reflect, my young friend, that the men who clothe and feed an army have almost as much to do with winning the victory as the men who fight ?" "I've thought of it," said Dick, wondering what the contractor had in mind.
"What regiment do you belong to, if I may ask?
My motive in asking these questions is wholly good." "One commanded by Colonel Winchester, recently sent from the west.

We've been in only one battle in the east, that fought at Cedar Run against Jackson." Watson again looked at Dick intently.

The boy felt that he was being measured and weighed by a man of uncommon perceptions.

Whatever might be his moral quality there could be no question of his ability.
"I am, as I told you before," said Watson, "a servant of my country.

A man who feeds and clothes the soldiers well is a patriot, while he who feeds and clothes them badly is a mere money grubber." He paused, as if he expected Dick to say something, but the boy was silent and he went on: "It is to the interest of the country that it be served well in all departments, particularly in the tremendous crisis that we now face.