This embarrassing incident might have damaged his reputation except for two factors: the part of the battle he was supposed to march to join had ended, so he wasn't really needed; and, because of a dispute between army commander Maj. Gen. George G. Meade and Slocum over the filing of their official reports, little public notice ensued.
Dette pinlige optrin kunne have skadet hans ry, hvis ikke det var for to omstændigheder: slaget han skulle marchere hen og deltage i var sluttet, så han var ikke rigtig savnet, og på grund af en uenighed mellem hærens øverstkommanderende, generalmajor George G. Meade og Slocum over hvordan deres officielle rapporter skulle arkiveres, kom der ikke meget frem i offentligheden om episoden.