It was terrific.

Then came meetings, public and stirring, and riots; the incident of John Brown's body; the arrival of Lincoln, the great commoner, on his way from Springfield, Illinois, to Washington via Philadelphia, to take the oath of office; the battle of Bull Run; the battle of Vicksburg; the battle of Gettysburg, and so on.

Cowperwood was only twenty-five at the time, a cool, determined youth, who thought the slave agitation might be well founded in human rights--no doubt was--but exceedingly dangerous to trade.

He hoped the North would win; but it might go hard with him personally and other financiers.

He did not care to fight.