ications to the North with the loyal
States.

"The administration was now in a position of great danger, in many
respects, not before contemplated.

"The rebel sympathizers and Golden Circles were loud in their
denunciation of the war and the party sustaining it. Thos. A. Strider
and Dan Bowen were traversing the state of Indiana, making inflammatory
speeches, and all over the North the same policy was being pursued by
the anti-war party. They alarmed the people by declaring that unless the
war was stopped our homes North would be invaded; that our armies could
not cope with the rebels. The only thing that seemed to put a check to
their hopes, operations and denunciations was the fact that our armies
in the West were having a continuation of victories.

"This being the situation of the armies and the condition of the minds
of the people, the loss of another great battle at this time would
have greatly prolonged the war, if it would not have been fatal to the
ultimate success of the Union cause. The authorities at Washington
were doing everything in their power to allay the excitement among the
people, and at the same time were trying to have the Army of the East
put in motion so as to pass down to Pottstown and interpose in front
of the enemy; he evidently intending to move by way of Brown's Ferry,
throwing part of his force on the Brown's Ferry road and a portion over
into the Sheepstown road, making a junction at or near Shapleyville.
The Union forces were expected to move across by Fardenburg, down
the sloping mountains of Cochineal and along and across Mad Valley to
Pottstown, and take position behind Antler's Run. But it seemed to be
almost impossible to get Gen. McGregor to put his army in motion. Many
were the excuses made; want of this thing to-day, and something else
to-morrow--shoes, clothing, blankets, and many other things--protracted
the delay. Finally, the President and Secretary of War being out of
patience with his hesitancy and excuses, the President directed the
Secretary of War to order Gen. McGregor to move without further delay.
This seemed to be understood by McGregor, and the next day everything
about the camps was in a bustle, and the Army of the East was again in
motion; but the movements were slow, and made in such a manner as not
to inspire very great confidence in our immediate success. The men
and subordinate officers seemed resolute and determined, but there was
something surrounding all