[90] may say that the contrast between Early and Milroy — the mingling together of “the blue” and “the gray” in friendly converse or sharp trades, and the animated discussions between the two parties-would make a chapter of great interest.
I rode out on the neutral ground with a brother Chaplain with no purpose whatever of any discussion of the points at issue in the great contest; but we soon found ourselves surrounded by groups of the “boys in blue,” and before we knew it were engaged in a sharp discussion of of various matters pertaining to the war. Then we got on the different battles, ending with Cedar Run. A Colonel with whom I was talking finally pulled out his pocket-book and offered to bet me $100 that “in less than twenty-four hours Jackson would be in full retreat on Richmond and Pope in close pursuit.” I replied: “I cannot take your bet, Colonel, for several reasons. In the first place, I do not bet at all; in the second place, I have not $100 about me; and, in the third place, it would be very difficult to find a stake-holder who would be satisfactory to both parties; but we shall see what we shall see.”
During the campaign of second Manassas I one day met a long column of prisoners going to the rear, and was surprised to see among them my friend, the Colonel. He at once recognized me, and pleasantly called out: “I say, Chaplain, ain't you sorry now that you did not take my bet?” “Well! No Colonel,” I replied, “I think you will probably need all of your spare cash now. But if you will excuse me for anything which may squint toward exultation over a prisoner, I would like to ask you if you do not think Stonewall Jackson has chosen a singular route by which to retreat on Richmond, and if you do not regard Pope's close pursuit as rather erratic?” He frankly owned up; we had a pleasant chat together; I shared my rations with him, and, as we parted, he said, “If you ever make up your mind to bet, Chaplain, you may bet your bottom dollar that I will never offer to bet again on any movement where Pope is in command on our side and Lee and Jackson on the other.”
On the 14th of August we had, by Jackson's orders, deeply interesting thanksgiving services in the army.
The battle of Cedar Run caused General Pope to pause in his career of “seeing the backs of the enemy,” and we rested undisturbed in our beautiful camps until General Lee came with the rest of the army, and we started on that brilliant campaign by which “Headquarters in the saddle” were summarily dismounted by the “foot cavalry” and their gallant comrades, and General Fitz John Porter made the scapegoat of Pope's blunders.
