And there to the left, where the road curves over the hill, mark you that dense mass of men! Ha! the head of the column begins to emerge from the trees.' There was not a cloud in the sky, but the great heat had caused a haze to overlie the valley, gathering thickly along the winding course of the river, and hanging in little sprays and feathers over the woodlands which clothe its banks.

Through this filmy vapour there broke from time to time fierce sparkles of brilliant light as the sun's rays fell upon breastplate or headpiece.

Now and again the gentle summer breeze wafted up sudden pulses of martial music to our ears, with the blare of trumpets and the long deep snarl of the drums.

As we gazed, the van of the army began to roll out from the cover of the trees and to darken the white dusty roads.

The long line slowly extended itself, writhing out of the forest land like a dark snake with sparkling scales, until the whole rebel army--horse, foot, and ordnance--were visible beneath us.