Owing to the density of the forest, the two colonels and their young staff officers had dismounted.
Harry passed them, and Colonel Talbot said to him: "Do you know when we'll advance, Harry ?" "It can't be much longer.

What time is it, Colonel ?" Colonel Talbot opened his watch, looked carefully at the face, and as he closed it again and put it back in his pocket, he replied gravely: "It's five forty-five o'clock of a memorable afternoon, Harry." "It's true, Leonidas," said Lieutenant-Colonel Hector St.Hilaire, "and whatever happens to us, it will be a pleasure to us both to know, even beyond the grave, that we have served long under the Christian soldier and great genius, Stonewall Jackson." "You'll both go through it," said Harry.

"I know you'll be with us when our victorious army goes over the Long Bridge and enters Washington." St.Clair and Langdon stood near, but said nothing.

Harry saw that they were enveloped by the mystery, the vastness and the terrible grandeur of the occasion.

So he said nothing to them, but rode back toward his commander.