"I am afraid just at first that the brightness of your gray jackets will put my men rather to shame; but we shall soon get rid of that.

But dismount your men, Ashley; there is plenty for them and their horses to do without wasting time in parade work.

There is very little of that here, I can tell you.

I have not seen a score of my men together for the last month." Vincent gazed with admiration at the young leader, whose name was soon to be celebrated throughout America and Europe.

The young Virginian--for he was not yet twenty-eight years old--was the _beau ideal_ of a cavalry officer.