They are pushing all along the lines of the great rivers; and worst of all, they can fill up their vacancies with hired emigrants, and as fast as one army disappears another takes its place.

I believe we shall beat them again and again, and shall prove, as we have proved before, that one Southerner fighting for home and liberty is more than a match for two hired soldiers, even with a good large sprinkling of Yankees among them.

But in the long run I am not sure that we shall win, for they can go on putting big armies into the field, while some day we must get used up.
"Of course it is possible that we may some day capture Washington, and that the North may get weary of the tremendous drain of money and men caused by their attempt to conquer us.

I hope it may be so, for I should like to think that we should win in the long run.

I never feel any doubt about our winning a battle when we begin.