General Early rode along the weakening Confederate formations, trying to rally them to take advantage of the big break, but to no avail. They had a hard time even getting up a decent Rebel Yell. Before long, the first of Grant's troops started arriving and launched a counter attack that stopped the advance.
The Confederates stopped for the night.
The next morning, Early reconnoitered the Union defenses with field glasses and instead of see the sharp, brand new uniforms worn by the clerks, he saw faded, war-torn blue uniforms. Everywhere, he saw fluttering U.S. and Regimental battle flags fluttering in the breeze.
Jubal Early later wrote in his memoirs, "I had, therefore, reluctantly to give up all hopes of capturing Washington, after I had arrived within sight of the dome of the Capitol."
--Old Sesh
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