When he awoke his nerves were restored, and he could think of the crater without becoming faint again.
That night Colonel Hertford of the cavalry came to their camp and talked with Colonel Winchester in the presence of Dick and his comrades of the staff.

The disastrous failure of the morning, so the cavalryman said, had convinced all the generals that Lee's trenches could not be forced, and the commander-in-chief was turning his eye elsewhere.

While the deadlock before Petersburg lasted he would push the operations in some other field.

He was watching especially the Valley of Virginia, where Early, after his daring raid upon the outskirts of Washington, was being pursued by Sheridan, though not hard enough in the opinion of General Grant.
"It's almost decided that help will be sent to Sheridan," said Hertford, "and in that event my regiment is sure to go.

Yours has served as a mounted regiment, and I think I have influence enough to see that it is sent again as cavalry, if you wish." Colonel Winchester accepted the offer gladly, and his young officers, in all eagerness, seconded him.