At any rate orders have already been issued for us to retreat and I hear that we're going back until we reach the Rappahannock, behind which we will camp." Dick knew very well now that it was Shepard who brought the news, and Pennington's report about the retreat was also soon verified.

The whole army was soon in motion and a feeling of depression replaced the optimism of the night before.

The advance had been turned into a retreat.

Were they to go back and forth in this manner forever?
But Colonel Winchester spoke hopefully to his young aides and said that the retreat was right.
"We're drawing out of a trap," he said, "and time is always on our side.
The South to win has to hit hard and fast, and in this case the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Virginia may join before Lee and Jackson can come up." The lads tried to reconcile themselves, but nevertheless they did not like retreat.

Dick with his powerful glasses often looked back toward the dark bulk of Clark's Mountain.