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But on its reverse slope lay Jackson's Shenandoahs； three thousand strong； and by far the best drilled and disciplined brigade that either side had yet produced apart； of course； from regulars。 Jackson had ridden up and down before them； calm as they had ever seen him on parade； quietly saying； 〃Steady； men； steady！ All's well。〃 In this way he had held them straining at the leash for hours。 Now； at last； their time had come。 Riding out to the center of his line he gave his final orders： 〃Reserve your fire till they come within fifty yards。 Then fire and give them the bayonet； and yell like furies when you charge！〃 Five minutes later； as the triumphant Federals topped the crest； the long gray line rose up； stood fast； fired one crashing point…blank volley； and immediately charged home with the first of those wild； high rebel yells that rang throughout the war。 The stricken and astounded Federal front caved in； turned round； and fled。 At the same instant the last of the ShenandoahsKirby Smith's brigade； detrained just in the nick of timecharged the wavering flank。 Then； like the first quiver of an avalanche； a tremor shook the whole massed Federals one moment on that fatal hill： the next； like a loosened cliff； they began the landslide down。
There； in the valley； along Young's Branch； McDowell established his last line of battle； based on the firm rock of the regulars。 But by this time the Confederates had brought up troops from the whole length of their line； the balance of numbers was at last in their favor； and nothing could stay the Federal recoil。 Lack of drill and discipline soon changed this recoil into a disorderly retreat。 There was no panic； but most of the military units 〃dissolved into a mere mob whose heart was set on getting back to Washington in any way left '''Open。 The regulars and a few formed bodies in reserve did their best to stem the stream。 But all in vain。
One mile short of Centreville there was a sudden upset and consequent block on the bridge across Cub Run。 Then the stream of men retreating； mixed with clogging masses of panic…struck civilians； became a torrent。
Bull Run was only a special…constable affair on a gigantic scale。 The losses were comparatively small3553 killed and wounded on both sides put together： not ten per cent of the less than forty thousand who actually fought。 Moreover； the side that won the battle lost the war。 And yet Bull Run had many points of very great importance。 In spite of all shortcomings it showed the good quality of the troops engaged： if not as soldiers； at all events as men。 It proved that the war； unlike the battle； would not be fought by special constables； some of whom first fired their rifles when their target was firing back at them。 It brought one great leaderStonewall Jacksoninto fame。 Above all； it profoundly affected the popular points of view； both North and South。 In the South there was undue elation； followed by the absurd belief that one Southerner could beat two Northerners any day and that the North would now back down en masse； as its army had from the Henry Hill。 A dangerous slackening of military preparation was the unavoidable result。 In the North； on the other hand； a good many people began to see the difference between armed mobs and armies； and the thorough Unionists； led by the wise and steadfast Lincoln； braced themselves for real war。
CHAPTER II。 THE COMBATANTS
No map can show the exact dividing line between the actual combatants of North and South。 Eleven States seceded： Virginia； the Carolinas； Georgia； Florida； Alabama； Mississippi； Tennessee； Louisiana； Texas； and Arkansas。 But the mountain folk of western Virginia and eastern Tennessee were strong Unionists； and West Virginia became a State while the war was being fought。 On the other hand； the four border States； though officially Federal under stress of circumstances； were divided against themselves。 In Maryland； Kentucky； Missouri； and Kansas； many citizens took the Southern side。 Maryland would have gone with the South if it had not been for the presence of overwhelming Northern sea…power and the absence of any good land frontier of her own。 Kentucky remained neutral for several months。 Missouri was saved for the Union by those two resourceful and determined men； Lyon and Blair。 Kansas； though preponderantly Unionist； had many Confederates along its southern boundary。 On the whole the Union gained greatly throughout the borderlands as the war went on； and the remaining Confederate hold on the border people was more than counterbalanced by the Federal hold on those in the western parts of old Virginia and the eastern parts of Tennessee。 Among the small seafaring population along the Southern coast there were also some strongly Union men。
Counting out Northern Confederates and Southern Federals as canceling each other； so far as effective fighting was concerned a comparison made between the North and South along the line of actual secession reveals the one real advantage the South enjoyed all throughan overwhelming party in favor of the war。 When once the die was cast there was certainly not a tenth of the Southern whites who did not belong to the war party； and the peace party always had to hold its tongue。 The Southerners formed simpler and far more homogeneous communities of the old long…settled stock； and were more inclined to act together when once their feelings were profoundly stirred。
The Northern communities； on the other hand； being far more complex and far less homogeneous； were plagued with peace parties that grew like human weeds； clogging the springs of action everywhere。 There were immigrants new to the country and therefore not inclined to take risks for a cause they had not learned to make their own。 There were also naturalized； and even American…born； aliens； aliens in speech； race； thought； and every way of life。 Then there were the oppositionists of different kinds； who would not support any war government； however like a perfect coalition it might be。 Among these were some Northerners who did business with the South； especially the men who financed the cotton and tobacco crops。 Others； again； were those loose…tongued folk who think any vexed question can be settled by unlimited talk。 Next came those 〃defeatist〃 cranks who always think their own side must be wrong； and who are of no more practical use than the out…and…out 〃pacifists〃 who think everybody wrong except themselves。 Finally； there were those slippery folk who try to evade all public duty； especially when it smacks of danger。 These skulkers flourish best in large and complex populations； where they may even masquerade as patriots of the kind so well described by Lincoln when he said how often he had noticed that the men who were loudest in proclaiming their readiness to shed their last drop of blood were generally the most careful not to shed the first。
Many of these fustian heroes formed the mushroom secret societies that played their vile extravaganza right under the shadow of the real tragedy of war。 Worse still； not content with the abracadabra of their silly oaths； the busybody members made all the mischief they could during Lincoln's last election。 Worst of all； they not o