All the next day the defeated army straggled into Washington city--bedraggled, foot-sore, wounded, hungry, wet through with the drizzling rain, exhausted. The citizens turned out to receive and succor them, and the city became a vast soup-house and hospital. On the streets, in the shelter of house-areas, under stoops, men dropped down and slept. [Illustration: FORT LINCOLN, WASHINGTON, D. C.] {62} CHAPTER VII. EFFECTS OF THE BATTLE OF BULL RUN. PARALYSIS OF THE UNION CAUSE--FORTIFYING THE APPROACHES TO THE CAPITAL--WHY THE CONFEDERATES DID NOT ATTEMPT THE CAPTURE OF WASHINGTON--EFFECT OF UNION DEFEAT IN ENGLAND AND FRANCE--SLIDELL AND MASON--CAPTURE OF THE "TRENT"--HENRY WARD BEECHER IN ENGLAND--SYMPATHY OF THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT FOR THE NORTH. The battle of Bull Run was undertaken with precipitation, fought with much valor on both sides, and terminated with present ruin to the Federal cause. For the moment the Union seemed to stagger under the blow. On the Confederate side there was corresponding exultation; a spirit of defiance flamed up throughout the South. It is in the nature of things that the initial battle of a war consolidates and crystallizes the sentiments of both the contestants. After Bull Run there was no further hope of peaceable adjustment, but only an increasing and settled purpose to fight out with the sword the great issue which was dividing the Union. For a brief season after the battle there was a paralysis of the Union cause. It was as much as the authorities at Washington could do to make themselves secure against further disaster. Indeed, the Potomac River now gave positive comfort to the Government, since it furnished in some measure a natural barrier to the northward progress of the exultant Confederates. Immediate steps were taken to fortify the approaches to the capital; but while this work was in progress the Government seemed to stand, like an alarmed sentry, on the Long Bridge of the Potomac. [Illustration: EXAMINING PASSES AT THE GEORGETOWN FERRY.] [Illustration: FORT IN FRONT OF WASHINGTON.]