He wondered why there was no attack,
nor even any alarm. The cloud of dust that so many thousands of marching
men made could be seen for miles. He did not know that Sherburne and the
fastest of the rough riders were now far in front, seizing every Union
scout or sentinel, and enabling Jackson's army to march on its great
turning movement wholly unknown to any officer or soldier of the North.
Soon he would stand squarely between Pope and Washington.
Before noon, Stuart and his wild horsemen joined them and their spirits
surged yet higher. All through the afternoon the march continued,
and at night Jackson fell upon Pope's vast store of supplies, surprising
and routing the guard. Taking what he could use he set fire to the rest
and the vast conflagration filled the sky.
Night came with Jackson standing directly in the rear of Pope. The trap
had been shut down, and it was to be seen whether Pope was strong enough
to break from it.
CHAPTER V
THE SECOND MANASSAS
The sunbeams seemed fairly to dance over the dusty earth. The dust was
not only over the earth, but over everything, men, animals, wagons and
tents.
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