The Confederate generals did not care to furnish beacons for the enemy.
When Harry stood up he could catch glimpses of the river, the color of steel again, but the farther bank, where the great army of the foe yet lay, was buried in darkness.

He wondered why Burnside was not using every hour of the night for crossing, but he remembered how the same general had delayed so long at Antietam that Lee and Jackson were able to save themselves.
He became conscious that it was growing much colder again.

The zero weather of a few days since was returning.

Every light puff of wind was like the stab of an icicle.

He was glad that he had a pair of blankets and that they were heavy ones, too.