t, but now this group and presently that suspended
operations. "What's there about this place anyhow? It has an awful,
familiar look. The stream and the stone bridge and the woods and the
hill--the Henry Hill. Good God! it's the field of Manassas!"

The field of Manassas, in the half light, somehow inspired a faint awe,
a creeping horror. "God! how young we were that day! It seems so long
ago, and yet it comes back. Do you remember how we crashed together at
the Stone Bridge? There's the Mathews Hill where we first met Sykes and
Ricketts--seen them often since. The Henry Hill--there's the house--Mrs.
Henry was killed. Hampton and Cary came along there and Beauregard with
his sword out and Old Joe swinging the colours high, restoring the
battle!--and Kirby Smith, just in time--just in time, and the yell his
column gave! Next day we thought the war was over."--"I didn't."--"Yes,
you did! You said, 'Well, boys, we're going back to every day, but by
jiminy! we've got something to tell our grandchildren!' The ravine
running up there--that was where Bee was killed! Bee! I can see him now.
Then we were over there." "Yes, on the hilltop by the pine wood.
'Jackson standing like a stone wall.' Look, the light's touching it.
Boys, I could cry, just as easy--"

The August morning strengthened. "Our guns were over there by the
charred trees. There's where we charged, there's where we came down on
Griffin and Ricketts!--the 33d, the 65th. The 65th made its fight there.
Richard Cleave--" "Don't!"--"Well, that's where we came down on Griffin
and Ricketts. Manassas! Reckon Old Jack and Marse Robert want a _second_
battle of Manassas?"

The light grew full. "Ewell's over there--A. P. Hill's over there. All
together, north of the Warrenton turnpike. Where's Marse Robert and
Longstreet?"

Colonel Fauquier Cary, riding by, heard the last remark and answered it.
"Marse Robert and Longstreet are marching by the road we've marched
before them. To-night, perhaps, we'll be again a united family."

"Colonel, are we going to have a battle?"

"I wasn't at the council, friends, but I can tell you what I think."

"Yes, yes! We think that you think pretty straight--"

"McCall and Heintzelman and Fitz John Porter have joined General Pope."

"Yes. So we hear."

"And others of the Army of the Potomac are on the way."

"Yes, undoubtedly."

"But are not here yet."

"No."

"Well, then, I think that the thing above all others that General Le