Discovery was destruction; the only hope was that
the enemy would not suspect our proximity. If we were once known to be
lurking there, good-bye to Stuart and his men!
So the long night commenced. The hours passed on, and still we were not
discovered. It seemed miraculous that some noise did not betray
Stuart's hiding-place; but an Unseen Eye seemed to watch over him, and
an Unseen Hand to guard him.
More than once the neigh of a horse rang out on the air of night; and
two or three times the discordant bray of a mule attached to the
artillery startled the silence of the woods. But these sounds were
unheeded. They evidently attracted no attention from the enemy.
Leaning down in their saddles, the men, half overcome by sleep, but
afraid of a rough waking, passed sleepless hours, looking for the dawn.
Stuart was never cooler. On his horse, at the head of his men, he
betrayed no emotion. You would not have known, except for his subdued
tones when speaking to some one, that he and his command were in a
veritable "tight place." Cool and resolute, he was equal to any event.
Certain capture or destruction of his whole force was imminent.
Thus the night glided away. We had not been discovered. Over the trees
was seen the yellow streak of dawn.
I looked round. The men's faces were haggard from want of sleep.
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