five o'clock in the afternoon
Soon they turned into the main road , where the bulk of the army had already passed and saw swarms of stragglers ahead of them . Journalists and public men met them , and Dick now learned how the truth about Bull Run had come to the capital . The news of defeat had been the more bitter , because already they had been rejoicing there over success . As late as five o'clock in the afternoon the telegraph had informed Washington of victory . Then , after a long wait , had come the bitter despatch telling of defeat , and flying fugitives arriving in the night had exaggerated it tenfold . The division to which Dick , Warner , and Whitley belonged marched over the Long Bridge and camped near the capital where they would remain until sent on further service . Dick now saw that the capital was in no danger .