Other scouts and staff officers arrived a little later with like messages, and not long afterward they heard shots behind them telling them that the hostile pickets were in touch.
They watered their horses in Cedar Run, crossed it and rejoined their own regiment under Colonel Arthur Winchester.

The colonel was thin, bronzed and strong, and he, too, like the other new men from the West, was eager for battle with the redoubtable Jackson.
"What have you seen, Dick ?" he exclaimed.

"Is it a mere scouting force of cavalry, or is Jackson really at hand ?" "I think it's Jackson himself.

We saw heavy columns coming up.

They were pressing forward, too, as if they meant to brush aside whatever got in their way." "Then we'll show them!" exclaimed Colonel Winchester.