ob no mo' jes now, sah! But Gineral Jackson
he sholy holdin' de foht at Harrisonburg.--Yes, sah, dat's de
Magaheysville road."

The South Fork of the Shenandoah lay beneath a bed of mist. They crossed
by a wooden bridge and came up again to the chill woods. Dim purple
streaks showed behind them in the east, but there was yet no glory and
no warmth. Before them rose a long, low mountain ridge, a road running
along the crest. "That certainly is damn funny!" said Harris; "unless
I've taken to seeing sights."

Cleave checked his horse. Above them, along the ridge top, was moving an
army. It made no noise on the soft, moist road, artillery wheel and
horse's hoof quiet alike. It seemed to wish to move quietly, without
voice. The quarter of the sky above the ridge was coldly violet, palely
luminous. All these figures stood out against it, soldiers with their
muskets, colour-bearer with furled colours, officers on foot, officers
on horseback, guns, caissons, gunners, horses, forges, ordnance wagons,
commissary--van, main body and rear, an army against the daybreak sky.

"Well, if ever I saw the like of that!" breathed the orderly. "What d'ye
reckon it means, sir?"

"It means that General Jackson is moving east from Harrisonburg."

"Not a sound--D'ye reckon they're ghosts, sir?"

"No. They're the Army of the Valley--There! the advance has made the
turn."

Toward them swung the long column, through the stillness of the dawn,
down the side of the ridge, over the soundless road, into the mist of
the bottom lands. The leading regiment chanced to be the 2d; colonel and
adjutant and others riding at the head. "Hello! It's Richard
Cleave!--The top of the morning to you, Cleave!--knew that Old Jack had
sent you off somewhere, but didn't know where.--Where are we going? By
God, if you'll tell us, we'll tell you! Apparently we're leaving the
Valley--damn it all! Train to Richmond by night, I reckon. We've left
Fourth of July, Christmas, and New Year behind us--Banks rubbing his
hands, Fremont doing a scalp dance, Milroy choosing headquarters in
Staunton! Well, it doesn't stand thinking of. You had as well waited for
us at the Gap. The general? Just behind, head of main column. He's
jerked that right hand of his into the air sixteen times since we left
Harrisonburg day before yesterday, and the staff says he prays at night
most powerful. Done a little praying myself; hope the Lord will look
after the Valley, seeing we aren't going