t New Market,
with a suddenness that made it dizzy. Straight across its path now ran
the strange and bold wall of the Massanuttons, architectural freak of
Nature's, planted midway of the smiling Valley. The army groaned.
"Always climbing mountains! This time to-morrow, I reckon, we'll climb
it back again. Nothing over on the other side but the Luray Valley!"

Up and up went the army, through luxuriant forests where the laurel was
in bloom, by the cool dash of mountain waters, past one-time haunts of
stag and doe, through fern, over pine needles, under azure sky,--then
down it sank, long winding after winding, moss and fern and richest
forest, here velvet shadow, there highest light, down and down to the
lovely Luray Valley, to the crossing of the Shenandoah, to green meadows
and the bugles ringing "halt"!

How short the time between tattoo and reveille! The dawn was rosy,
still, not cold, the river running near, the men with leave to rid
themselves of the dust of yesterday's long march. In they plunged, all
along the south fork of the Shenandoah, into the cool and wholesome
flood. There were laughters, shoutings, games of dolphins. Then out they
came, and while they cooked their breakfasts they heard the drums and
fifes of Ewell's eight thousand, marching down from Conrad's Store.

The night before at Washington, where there was much security and much
triumph over the certain-to-occur-soon-if-not-already-occurred Fall of
Richmond, the Secretary of War received a dispatch from General Banks at
Strasburg in the Valley of Virginia, thirty miles from Winchester.

"My force at Strasburg is 4476 infantry, two brigades; 1600 cavalry,
10 Parrott guns and 6 smoothbore pieces. I have on the Manassas Gap
Railroad, between Strasburg and Manassas, 2500 infantry, 6 companies
cavalry, and 6 pieces artillery. There are 5 companies cavalry,
First Maine, near Strasburg. Of the enemy I received information
last night, direct from New Market, that Jackson has returned to
within 8 miles of Harrisonburg, west. I have no doubt that Jackson's
force is near Harrisonburg, and that Ewell still remains at Swift
Run Gap. I shall communicate more at length the condition of affairs
and the probable plans of the enemy."

In pursuance of his promise General Banks wrote at length from
Strasburg, the evening of the 22d:--

"Sir. The return of the rebel forces of General Jackson to the
Valley after his forced march against Ge