had come up and was engaged with that at the foot of the mountain?
The Colonel decided to be ready to go and help them; to fall on the enemy
in the rear; perhaps they might capture the entire force.
It seemed the natural thing to do, and the guns were limbered up
in an incredibly short time, and a roadway made through the intrenchment,
the men working like beavers under the excitement. Before they had left
the redoubt, however, the vedettes sent out returned and reported
that there was no engagement going on, and the firing below seemed to be
only practising. There was quite a stir in the camp below;
but they had not even broken camp. This was mysterious. Perhaps it meant
that they had received reinforcements, but it was a queer way of showing it.
The old Colonel sighed as he thought of the good ammunition
they could throw away down there, and of his empty limber-chests.
It was necessary to be on the alert, however; the guns were run back
into their old places, and the horses picketed once more back among the trees.
Meantime he sent another messenger back, this time a courier, for he had
but one commissioned officer left, and the picket below was strengthened.

The morning passed and no one came; the day wore on and still no advance
was made by the force below. It was suggested that the enemy had left;
he had, at least, gotten enough of that battery. A reconnoissance, however,
showed that he was still encamped at the foot of the mountain.
It was conjectured that he was trying to find a way around
to take them in the rear, or to cross the ridge by the footpath.
Preparation was made to guard more closely the mountain-path across the spur,
and a detachment was sent up to strengthen the picket there.
The waiting told on the men and they grew bored and restless.
They gathered about the guns in groups and talked; talked of each piece some,
but not with the old spirit and vim; the loneliness of the mountain
seemed to oppress them; the mountains stretching up so brown and gray