"Just as a lot of our own people were grieved at the death of Stonewall
Jackson, although next to Lee he was our most dangerous foe," said
Pennington.

The reader resumed, and, although he was interrupted from time to time
by question or comment, his monotone was pleasant and soothing, and Dick
fell asleep. When he awoke his nerves were restored, and he could think
of the crater without becoming faint again.

That night Colonel Hertford of the cavalry came to their camp and talked
with Colonel Winchester in the presence of Dick and his comrades of the
staff. The disastrous failure of the morning, so the cavalryman said,
had convinced all the generals that Lee's trenches could not be forced,
and the commander-in-chief was turning his eye elsewhere. While the
deadlock before Petersburg lasted he would push the operations in some
other field. He was watching especially the Valley of Virginia, where
Early, after his daring raid upon the outskirts of Washington, was being
pursued by Sheridan, though not hard enough in the opinion of General
Grant.

"It's almost decided that help will be sent to Sheridan," said Hertford,
"and in that event my regiment is sure to go. Yours has served as a
mounted regiment, and I think I have influence enough to see that it is
sent again as cavalry, if you wish."

Colonel Winchester accepted the offer gladly, and his young officers,
in all eagerness, seconded him. They were tiring of inactivity, and of
the cramped and painful life in the trenches. To be on horseback again,
riding over hills and across valleys, seemed almost Heaven to them, and,