At any other time the
Potomac could rise or fall, whenever it pleased, for all I cared, but now
it's life and death."
"Our doubts are decided and we've lost. Look, sir the whole southwest is
dark now!"
"And here come the first drops!"
Sherburne sent hurried orders among the men to keep their ammunition and
weapons dry, and then they bent their heads to the storm which would beat
almost directly in their faces. Soon it came without much preliminary
thunder and lightning. The morning that had been warm turned cold and
the rain poured hard upon them. Most of the horsemen were wet through in
a short time, and they shivered in their sodden uniforms, but it was a
condition to which they were used, and they thought little of themselves
but nearly all the while of the Potomac.
Few words were spoken. The only sounds were the driving of the rain and
the thud of many hoofs in the mud. Harry often saw misty figures among
the trees on the hills, and he knew that they were watched by hostile
eyes as the Northern armies in Virginia, were always watched with the
same hostility. It was impossible for Lee's men to make any secret
march. The population, intensely loyal to the Union, promptly carried
news of it to Meade or his generals.
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