e no further sign, and as the day declined the army was
recalled to the pike and marched south. Jackson, in person, gave me
instructions to draw up my brigade facing west, on some hills above the
pike, and distant from it several hundred yards, where I was to remain.
He said that the road was crowded, and he wanted time to clear it, that
Fremont was safe for the night, and our cavalry toward Winchester
reported Banks returned to that place from the Potomac, but not likely
to move south before the following day; then rode off, and so rapidly as
to give me no time to inquire how long I was to remain, or if the
cavalry would advise me in the event that Banks changed his purpose.
This was near sunset, and by the time the command was in position
darkness fell upon us. No fires were allowed, and, stacking arms, the
men rested, munching cold rations from their haversacks. It was their
first opportunity for a bite since early morning.

I threw myself on the ground, and tried in vain to sleep. No sound could
be heard save the clattering of hoofs on the pike, which as the night
wore on became constant. Hour after hour passed, when, thinking I heard
firing to the north, I mounted and looked for the pike. The darkness was
so intense that it could not have been found but for the white
limestone. Some mounted men were passing, whom I halted to question.
They said their command had gone on to rejoin the army, and, they
supposed, had missed me in the dark; but there was a squadron behind,
near the enemy's advance, which, a large cavalry force, had moved from
Winchester at an early period of the day and driven our people south.
This was pleasant; for Winder's brigade had marched several hours since,
and a wide interval existed between us.

More firing, near and distinct, was heard, and the command was ordered
down to the pike, which it reached after much stumbling and swearing,
and some confusion. Fortunately, the battery, Captain Bowyer, had been
sent forward at dusk to get forage, and an orderly was dispatched to put
it on the march. The 6th (Irish) regiment was in rear, and I took two
companies for a rear guard. The column had scarce got into motion before
a party of horse rushed through the guard, knocking down several men,
one of whom was severely bruised. There was a little pistol-shooting and
sabre-hacking, and for some minutes things were rather mixed. The
enemy's cavalry had charged ours, and driven it on the infantry. One
Fed