The sky turning to silver soon gave way to gold, and the clear August light poured in a flood over the rolling country.
Dick saw ahead of him a vast cloud of dust extending miles from east to west, marking where the army of Pope pushed on its retreat to the Rappahannock.

There was no need to search for the Northern force.

The newest recruit would know that it was here.
The Southern vanguard was behind them and not many hundred yards away.
Dick distinctly saw the cavalry, riding along the road, and hundreds of skirmishers pushing through the woods and fields.

He judged that the force did not number many thousands and that it could not think of assailing the whole Union army.

But with the coming of day the vigor of the attack increased.