That night, over a bowl of boiled, salted mutton, Roper observed that though tired, the legionaries seemed in high spirits. In part their morale had been boosted by the victory they had already won over the Suthern army, but it was Roper’s first encounter with the fact that the men under his command were happiest when they had a purpose. They knew where they were going and why, and so served more readily than ever. There was no longer a disconnect between their duties and the ultimate aim of the campaign. Each man could see how every action he performed contributed to defeating the Sutherners.
