sely than most men do to a lower one; but it is to be remembered that
the examples of the good are temptations and opportunities to the
unscrupulous. The habit of thought underlying such language, or soon
engendered by its use, has made Mexico and the South American republics
the wonder and scorn of civilization.

The foregoing account of McClellan's downfall is deemed pertinent
because he was the central figure in the Northern field, and laid the
foundation of Northern success. Above all, he and a gallant band of
officers supporting him impressed a generous, chivalric spirit on the
war, which soon faded away; and the future historian, in recounting some
later operations, will doubt if he is dealing with campaigns of generals
or expeditions of brigands.

The intention of McClellan to transfer his base from Washington to some
point farther south was known to Johnston, but there was doubt whether
Fredericksburg or the Peninsula would be selected. To meet either
contingency, Johnston in the spring of 1862 moved his army from Manassas
to the vicinity of Orange Court House, where he was within easy reach of
both Fredericksburg and Richmond. The movement was executed with the
quiet precision characteristic of Johnston, unrivaled as a master of
logistics.

I was ordered to withdraw the infantry pickets from the lower Bull Run
after nightfall, and move on a road through the county of Prince
William, east of the line of railway from Manassas to Orange. This road
was tough and heavy, and crossed by frequent streams, affluents of the
neighboring Potomac. These furnished occupation and instruction to a
small body of pioneers, recently organized, while the difficulties of
the road drew heavily on the marching capacity--or rather incapacity--of
the men. Straggling was then, and continued throughout to be, the vice
of Southern armies. The climate of the South was not favorable to
pedestrian exercise, and, centaur-like, its inhabitants, from infancy to
old age, passed their lives on horseback, seldom walking the most
insignificant distance. When brought into the field, the men were as
ignorant of the art of marching as babes, and required for their
instruction the same patient, unwearied attention. On this and
subsequent marches frequent halts were made, to enable stragglers to
close up; and I set the example to mounted officers of riding to the
rear of the column, to encourage the weary by relieving them of their
arms, and occasion