Here the soldiers began to fortify and prepare for a longer stay while Jackson sent for aid.
Harry was not among the messengers for help.

Jackson had learned his great ability as a scout, and now he often sent him on missions of observation, particularly with Captain Sherburne, to whom St.Clair and Langdon were also loaned by Colonel Talbot.

Thus the three were together when they rode with Sherburne and a hundred men a few days after their arrival at the ridge.
They were well wrapped in great coats, because the weather, after deceiving for a while with the appearance of spring, had turned cold again.

The enemy's scouts and spies were keeping back, where they could blow on their cold fingers or walk a while to restore the circulation to their half frozen legs.
Sherburne was his neat and orderly self again and St.Clair was fully his equal.

Langdon openly boasted that he was going to have a dressing contest between them for large stakes as soon as the war was over.