He was growing so thoroughly inured to war that he seldom realized the dangers until they were passed.
Neither he nor his horse was hurt--their very speed, perhaps, saved them and they entered the wood, where the Southern cavalry were riding.
"General Ashby!" he cried to the first man he saw.

"Where is he?
I've a message from General Jackson!" The soldier pointed to a figure on horseback but a short distance away, and Harry galloped up.
"General Jackson asks you to press the enemy harder!" he said to Ashby.
"He wishes him to be driven in rapidly!" A faint flush came into the brown cheeks of Ashby.
"He shall be obeyed," he replied.

"We're about to charge in full force! Hold, young man! You can't go back now! You must charge with us!" He put his hand on Harry's rein as he spoke, and the boy saw that a strong force of Northern cavalry had now appeared in the fields directly between him and his general.

Ashby turned the next instant to a bugler at his elbow and exclaimed fiercely: "Blow! Blow with all your might!" The piercing notes of the charge rang forth again and again.

Ashby, shouting loudly and continuously and waving his sword above his head, galloped forward.