Then they triumphantly placed heavy lines of pickets about the ford on
the Union side.
It was more than the Union lads could stand. A heavy mass of infantry,
Colonel Winchester's regiment in the very front of it, marched forward
to drive back these impertinent horsemen. They charged with so much
impetuosity that Stuart's cavalry abandoned such dangerous ground.
All the pickets were drawn in and they retreated in haste across the
stream, the water foaming up in spurts about them beneath the pursuing
bullets.
Then came a silence and a great looking back and forth. The threatening
armies stared at each other across the water, but throughout the
afternoon they lay idle. The pitiless August sun burned on and the dust
that had been trodden up by the scores of thousands hung in clouds low,
but almost motionless.
Dick went down into a little creek, emptying into the Rappahannock,
and bathed his face and hands. Hundreds of others were doing the same.
The water brought a great relief. Then he went back to Colonel
Winchester and his comrades, and waited patiently with them until evening.
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