Page:Lives of the presidents in words of one syllable (1903).djvu/101

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North thought they would win, but they did not do so. They found out that it was not a play war, and that they must have more men to help them, so Pres-i-dent Lin-coln sent out a call that brought a great host to the field.

RETREAT OF UNION TROOPS AT BULL RUN.

At the South the slaves thought that the Yan-kees were down there to make them free, so they did all they could to help them, but they kept still till the time came for them to take their place in the field.

Lin-coln said that his prime aim was to save the land and not to fight to free the slaves. These are his words: "If I could save the Un-ion, though I did not free a slave, I would do it. If I must let them go free to save it, I would do it. Still, in my own heart, it is my wish that all men, in all lands, should be free."

All through 1861 there were fights big and small, most of which were won by the South. In 1862 war took a start in the West, with the great U. S. Grant at the head