But no troop of the Northern horse, nor horse of any kind, appeared.

Instead, Jackson's own horse began to pant and stumble.

Soon he gave out entirely.
It was not yet day, but dimly to the right they saw the roof of a house among some trees.

It was a poor Virginia farm that did not have horses on it, and Jackson suggested to Harry that they wake up the people and secure two fresh mounts.
The commander of an army and his young aide walked a little distance down a road, entered a lawn, drove off two barking dogs, and knocked loud on the front door of the house with the butts of their riding whips.

A head was at last thrust out of an upper window, and a sleepy and indignant voice demanded what they wanted.
"We're two officers from General Jackson's army riding on important duty," replied the general, in his usual mild tones.