Sentence:  "A fine man, that Dunwody, yonder," commented the young captain, as they parted, and as he turned to his prisoner. "We'll see him on in Washington some day. He is <WSD>strengthening</WSD> his forces now against Mr. Benton out there.nb...." 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To empower; to give moral strength to; to encourage; to enhearten.