The great army of the South waited, because the great army of the North, under McClellan, also waited and temporized while the autumn was passing fast.
But Jackson, while held in the bonds of orders, did not sleep.

The most active youth of his command rode day and night toward the northern end of the valley, where the forces of the Union were gathering.

The movements of Banks and Kelly and the other Northern commanders were watched continually by keen eyes trained in the southern forests.

Slim striplings passed in the night through the little towns, and the people, intensely loyal to the South, gave them the news of everything.
Harry had seen the whole autumn pass and winter come, and the war, save for a fitful skirmish now and then, stood at a pause in the valley.

Yet he rode incessantly, both with the others and alone, on scouting duty.
He knew every square mile of the country over a wide range, and he had passed whole nights in the forest, when hail or snow was whistling by.
But these had been few.