He very sensibly resigned his command on the next day.
The choice of his successor, however, was again unfortunate.

Brigadier General Alexander Smyth had been inspector general in the regular army before he was given charge of an infantry brigade.

He had a most flattering opinion of himself, and promotion to the command of an army quite turned his head.

The oratory with which he proceeded to bombard friend and foe strikes the one note of humor in a chapter that is otherwise depressing.

Through the newspapers he informed his troops that their valor had been conspicuous "but the nation has been unfortunate in the selection of some of those who have directed it...