decreed that
the nimbus which surrounds the brow of a nation's heroes shall be
reserved for the few whom she selects as types, and these more often
than otherwise idealized types chosen by chance or by accident. These
alone may wear the laurel that catches the eye of ideality and
furnishes the theme for the poet's praise. Others must be content to
shine in reflected light or to be forgotten. The best way is to follow
William Winter's advice and neither crave admiration nor expect
gratitude. After all, the best reward that can come to a man is that
intimate knowledge of himself which is the sure foundation of
self-respect. The adulation of the people is a fugitive dream, as
Admiral Dewey knows now, if he did not suspect it before.

In the original manuscript of the foregoing chapter, written in the year
1886, Lowell was represented as marching "without orders" from right to
left with his own brigade and the Michigan brigade. In the text the
words "without orders" have been omitted. This is not because my own
recollection of the events of that day is not the same now as then, but
for the reason that I am reluctant to invite controversy by giving as
statements of fact things that rest upon the evidence of my own
unsupported memory.

After the manuscript had been prepared, it was referred to General
Merritt with a request that he point out any errors or inaccuracies that
he might note, as it was intended for publication. This request elicited
the following reply:

"West Point, December 2, 1886.

"General J.H. Kidd,
"My Dear General:

"So much has been written as to the details of the war that I have
stopped reading the war papers in the best magazines, even. An
officer writes one month what is to him a truthful account of events
and the next month that account is contradicted by three or four in
print with dozens of others who content themselves with contradicting
it in talk. The account you send me of Cedar Creek is not more
accurate than the rest.

"The morning of the attack Lowell's brigade had been ordered to make
a reconnoissance on the 'Middle road.' This order was given by me the
evening before. The picket line of the First brigade was attacked
before the Reserve brigade moved out, and Lowell was ordered to hold
his brigade in hand to help the First brigade if the attack was
pressed.

"Soon after, the fighting on the left of our army was heavy