Finally, when assailed by the latter, vast superiority of numbers was annulled by immeasurable superiority in weapons and in discipline.

The secessionists were animated, too, by a bitter resentment against their assailants, as the authors of the general ruin and of much individual suffering; and when the victory was gained, they not infrequently improved it to the utter destruction of all who had taken part in the attack.

Whichever side were most to blame in the feud, no quarter was given by either.

It was an internecine war of numbers, ignorance, and anarchy against science and order.

On both sides there still remained much of the spirit generated in times when life was less precious than the valour by which alone it could be held, and preserved through milder ages by the belief that death was not annihilation--enough to give to both parties courage to sacrifice their lives for the victory of their cause and the destruction of their enemies.