There came to him, wafted from the field of sorrow, a note which was command, a voice which sounded to him above the voices of his own brasses, above the tapping of the kettledrums.

A gesture of command, and the music ceased absolutely.

A moment, and it had resumed.
The forty black horses which made up this regimental band were the pride of the division.

Four deep, forty strong, with arching necks, with fore feet reaching far and drooping softly, each horse of the famous cavalry band passed on out upon the field of Louisburg with such carriage as showed it sensible of its mission.

The reins lay loose upon their necks, but they kept step to the music which they felt.
Forty horses paced slowly forward, keeping step.