The whole wet, swampy country, so different from his own, seemed to be deserted by everything save the armies.

No rabbits sprang up in the thickets and there were no birds.

Everything had fled already in the presence of war.
But the army marched.

After a brief breakfast the brigades moved down the road, and Harry saw clearly that these veterans of the valley were tremulous with excitement.

Youthful, eager, and used to victory, they were anxious to be at the very center of affairs which were now on a gigantic scale.