THE PLAYERS OF THE GAME When the band major was twenty miles away in front of Louisburg his trumpets sounded always the advance.

The general played the game calmly.

The line of the march was to be along the main road leading into the town.

With this course determined, the general massed his reserves, sent on the column of assault, halted at the edge of the wood, deployed his skirmishers, advanced them, withdrew them, retreated but advanced again, ever irresistibly sweeping the board in toward the base of Louisburg, knight meeting knight, pawn meeting pawn, each side giving and taking pieces on the red board of war.
The main intrenchments erected in the defences of Louisburg lay at right angles to the road along which came the Northern advance, and upon the side of the wood nearest to the town.

Back of the trenches lay broken fields, cut up by many fences and dotted with occasional trees.