The Doctor talked long and deeply upon these matters, and ended by saying that he would get me Confederate clothing from some wounded prisoner.  Then he began a discussion of the principles which the respective sections were fighting for.

“Doctor,” said I; “awhile ago, when I was urging that a scout would be of greater service to his cause if he disguised himself, as my friend Jones does, you seemed to doubt my assertion that the best thing for the rebels was their quick defeat.”

“I remember it.”

“Please tell me what you have in mind.”

“It is this, Jones:  America must be united, or else dis-severed.  I believe in the world-idea; although I condemn this war, I believe in the Union.  The difference between us is, that I do not believe and you do believe that the way to preserve the Union is going to war.  But war has come.  Now, since it has come, I think I can see that an easy defeat of the Southern armies will not bring about a wholesome reunion.  For the people of the two sections to live in harmony, there must be mutual respect, and there must be self-respect.  An easy triumph over the South would cause the North great vainglory and the South great humiliation.  Granting war, it should be such as to effect as much good and as little harm as possible.  The South, if she ever comes back into the Union respecting herself, must be exhausted by war; she must be able to know that she did all she could, and the North must know that the South proved herself the equal of the North in everything manly and respectable.  So I say that I should fear a future Union founded upon an easy submission; there would be scorners and scorned—­not friends.”

XV

WITH THE DOCTOR ON THE RIGHT

“The respects thereof are nice and trivial,
All circumstances well considered.” 
—­SHAKESPEARE.

For some days the brigade remained near Williamsburg.  We learned that a part of the army had gone up York River by water, and was encamped near White House, and that General McClellan’s headquarters were at or near that place.

Then the division moved and camped near Roper’s Church.  We heard that the rebels had destroyed the Merrimac.  Heavy rains fell.  Hooker’s division was still in reserve, and had little to do except to mount camp guard.  I had nothing to do.  We had left Dr. Khayme in his camp near Williamsburg.

I had not seen Lydia, Willis’s manner changed from nervousness to melancholy.  It was a week before he told me that he had written to Miss Lydia, and had been refused.  The poor fellow had a hard time of it, but he fought himself hard, and I think I helped him a little by taking him into my confidence in regard to my own troubles.  I was moved to do this by the belief that, if I should tell Willis about my peculiarities, which in my opinion would make marriage a crime for me, he would find companionship in sorrow where he had thought to find rivalry, and cease to think entirely of his own unhappiness.  I was not wrong; he seemed to appreciate my intention and to be softened.  I endeavoured also to stir up his ambition as a soldier, and had the great pleasure of seeing him begin seriously to study tactics and even strategy.