Although it was August the day was cool, and the blue sky of Virginia was never brighter.

A refreshing breeze blew from dim, blue mountains that they could see far ahead, and, as they entered a wide stretch of open country where ambush was impossible, the trumpets called in the flankers.
"We shall make the lower mountains about midnight, and we'd better camp then until dawn.

Don't you think so, gentlemen ?" asked Colonel Hertford of his associate colonels, Winchester and Bedford.
"The plan seems sound to me," replied Bedford, the Pennsylvanian.

"Of course, we want to reach Sheridan as soon as possible, but if we push the horses too hard we'll break them down." Dick had dropped back with Warner and Pennington, but he heard the colonels talking.
"We all saw General Sheridan at the great battles in the West," he said.
"I particularly remember how he planted himself and the batteries at Perryville and saved us from defeat, but he seems to be looming up so much more now in the East." "He's become the Stuart of our side," said Warner.

"I've heard some of the people at Washington don't believe in him, but he has General Grant's confidence and that's enough for me.