Then Lee and his generals saw a vast cloud of dust in the northwest and they knew that under it marched Pope's retreating army.
The Southern army was at once ordered forward in pursuit and in the night the vanguard, wading the Rapidan, followed eagerly.

Dick and his comrades did not know then that they were followed so closely, but they were destined to know it before morning.

The regiment of Colonel Winchester, one of the best and bravest in the whole service, formed a part of the rearguard, and Dick, Warner and Pennington rode with their chief.
The country was broken and they crossed small streams.

Sometimes they were in open fields, and again they passed through long stretches of forest.

There was a strong force of cavalry with the regiment, and the beat of the horses' hoofs made a steady rolling sound which was not unpleasant.
But Dick found the night full of sinister omens.