88 The Mississippi Valley in the Civil War
the reinforcing army unbroken. Had Buell’sarrival been further delayed, they might perhapshave completed their victory on Monday, but nowthe conditions were entirely changed. It was inBragg and an agony of rage and disappointmentBeauregard, .^at Bragg at nightfall received Beau-regard’s orders to suspend the fight till morning.It is a principle often illustrated in war that whentwo armies have fought until their strength is well-nigh spent, the one that can soonest summon itsjaded energies to a final assault is almost sureto win. Upon this principle Bragg would haverisked everything upon a grand attack on Sundayevening. When Beauregard’s staff-officer broughthim the order to desist, Bragg inquired if he hadalready promulgated the order to other generals.The officer replied that he had. Then quoth thedisconsolate Bragg, “ If you had not, I would notobey it. The battle is lost .” 1 It is upon thisview of the case that some writers have built theinference that Beauregard threw away the advan-tage which Johnston had virtually won. Of coursenobody can tell what would have ensued had Braggmade his attack, but the general history of the