They had proved it over and over again, but they were always mismanaged.

It seemed to him that they were never sent to the right place at the right time.
Nevertheless, many of the Northern generals, able and patriotic, achieved great deeds before the dawn of that momentous morning.
Messengers were riding in the darkness in a zealous attempt to gather the forces together.

There was yet abundant hope that they could crush Jackson before Lee came, and in the darkness brigade after brigade marched toward Warrenton.
Dick, after tasting all the bitterness of retreat, felt his hopes rise again.

They had not really been beaten.

They had fought a superior force of Jackson's own men to a standstill.