Compare the earlier assessment of the 304th's fighting prowess given by the lieutenant with the assessment in this paragraph. What was the earlier assessment?

Chapter 18

The officer who rode like a cowboy reflected for an instant. "Well," he said, "I had to order in th' 12th to help th' 76th, an' I haven't really got any. But there's th' 304th. They fight like a lot 'a mule drivers. I can spare them best of any."