An unfailing favorite with the soldiers, they cheered him as he passed, and he would raise his hat, a flush of pride showing through the tan of his cheeks.
"If a general, after being defeated, can still retain the confidence of his army he must have great qualities of some kind," said Dick to Colonel Winchester.
"That's true, Dick.

McClellan lost at the Seven Days, and he has just taken over an army that was trapped and beaten under Pope, but behold the spirits of the men, although the Second Manassas is only a few days away.

McClellan looks after the private soldier, and if he could only look after an army in the way that he organizes it this war would soon be over." Dick noticed that the colonel put emphasis on the "if" and his heart sank a little.

But it soon rose again.

The Army of the Potomac was now a veteran body.