We were in Manassas Gap and we learned definitely that Shields is coming through the pass with ten thousand men." "Fine," said Sherburne with a dusty smile.

"Ten thousand is a good round number." "And if we'll give him time enough," continued Harry, "McDowell will come with twice as many more." "Look's likely," said Sherburne.
"We've been riding back toward Jackson as fast as we could," continued Harry, "and a little while ago Aubrey riding the same way overtook us." "And what have you seen, Aubrey ?" asked Sherburne.
"I?
Oh, I've seen a lot.

I've been down by Front Royal in the night, and I've seen Ord with ten thousand men coming full tilt down the Luray Valley." "What another ten thousand! It's funny how the Yankees run to even tens of thousands, or multiples of that number." "I've heard," said Harry, "that the force under Banks and Saxton in front of Jackson was ten thousand also." "I'm sorry, boys, to break up this continuity," said Sherburne with a troubled laugh, "but it's fifteen thousand that I've got to report.
Fremont is coming from the west with that number.

We've seen 'em.

I've no doubt that at this moment there are nearly fifty thousand Yankees in the valley, with more coming, and all but ten thousand of them are in General Jackson's rear." It seemed that Sherburne, daring cavalryman, had lost his courage for the moment, but the faith of the stern Presbyterian youth, Dalton, never faltered.
"As I told Harry a little while ago, we have at least fifty thousand men," he said.
"What do you mean ?" asked Sherburne.
"I count Stonewall Jackson as forty thousand, and the rest will bring the number well over fifty thousand." Sherburne struck his gauntleted hand smartly on his thigh.
"You talk sense, Dalton!" he exclaimed.