"It's a glorious life, Wingfield! When we chatted over the future at school we never dreamed of such a life as this, though some of us did talk of entering the army; but even then an occasional skirmish with Indians was the limit of our ideas.""Yes, it is a glorious life!" Vincent agreed."I cannot imagine anything more exciting.Of course, there is the risk of being shot, but somehow one never seems to think of that.There is always something to do and to think about, from the time one starts on a scout at daybreak to that when one lies down at night one's senses are on the stretch.Besides, we are fighting in defense of our country and not merely as a profession, though I don't suppose, after all, that makes much difference when one is once in for it.
As far as I have read all soldiers enjoy campaigning, and it does not seem to make any difference to them who are the foe or what they are fighting about.But I should like to feel a little more sure that we shall win in the long run."There was a chorus of indignant protests against there being any possible doubts as to the issue.
"Why, we have thrashed them every time we have met them, Wingfield.""That is all very well," Vincent said."Here in Virginia we have held our own, and more than held it.We have beat back Scott and McClellan, and now we have thrashed Pope; and Stonewall Jackson has won a dozen battles in Western Virginia.But you must remember that in other parts they are gradually closing in; all the ports not already taken are closely blockaded; they are pushing all along the lines of the great rivers; and worst of all, they can fill up their vacancies with Irishmen and Germans, and as fast as one army disappears another takes its place.I believe we shall heat 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 Germans or Irishmen, 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.Ihope 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.My only fear is that we may get used up before the North are tired of it.
