You see I have no battles to describe on this occasion, reader. We had
some hard fighting in the cavalry, but I shall not dwell upon that. It
is some handsome fire-necklaces, and a talk with an old woman, which I
shall speak of.
The fire-necklaces were manufactured by General Meade's troops, just
before their retreat. The men had fallen into line at the word; moved
silently toward the Rapidan, and had not taken the trouble, in leaving
the rebel woods, to extinguish their bivouac fires, amid the thickets,
carpeted with leaves. The result was a splendid spectacle. The fires
had gradually burned outward, devouring the carpet of dry leaves. Great
circles of flame were seen everywhere in the woods, and these dazzling
fire-necklaces grew larger and larger, twined together, became
entangled, twisted about, sparkled, crackled,--of all the sights I ever
saw I think this was the most curious!
From time to time the flames crawled along and reached the foot of some
tall tree, festooned with dry vines. Then the vine would catch; the
flame would dart through the festoons; climb the trunk; stream from the
summit,--and above the blazing rings, twisting in endless convolutions,
would roar a mighty tongue of flame, crimson, baleful, and menacing.
It was a new "torch of war," invented by General Meade.
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