Much of what he said was founded on a basis of fact, some of it was mere suspicion and surmise, all of it came back to the main point that defeat stared us in the face.
I was glad and yet loath to part with him.

If ever a man needed a strong friendly hand and heart to lean upon he did during those dark days--the end in darkest night nearer than anyone could divine.

He showed stronger mettle than had been allowed him: bore a manlier part than was commonly ascribed to the slovenly slipshod habiliments and the aspects in which benignancy and vacillation seemed to struggle for the ascendancy.

Abroad the elements conspired against him.

At home his wife lay ill, as it proved, unto death.