more and more excited, and went galloping out and then came
galloping in at an increased rate of speed.

Then the enemy's long, thin line of skirmishers debouched into the
fields, like specter figures in a panorama. Next his artillery was
seen moving to the right and left, and apparently taking up
positions on the distant hills. These were followed by his hungry
troopers, very dirty and forlorn, and looking like shadowy figures
just issuing from a desert of dust. The movements of these rebels in
the distance gave new features to the face of the siege. General
McDowell McCook was seen to ride rapidly over the field, followed by
his two orderlies. Generals Meigs and Rucker urged on their
Bushwhackers, who went to work with renewed energy clearing up the
forest. The "Ancient Mariners" whetted their cutlasses, and
continued to exhaust their ordnance, a large stock of which they had
brought to the field in the shape of tobacco. And the Treasury Guard
stopped eating sandwiches and looked to their ammunition. In fine,
our gallant defenders went to getting their courage up in various
ways. Our good President (may his memory never die!) took up a
position near Fort Stevens, as if to encourage the hundred-day men
to stand by their guns and keep their pluck warm.

A little after noon there was a material change in the situation.
The enemy's advance skirmishers made their appearance within range
of Fort Stevens and began a miscellaneous firing. Then our own
cannon opened, and their echoes over the hills first sounded the
alarm and awakened the people of the city from their dream of
security. There were as yet no really efficient troops to send to
defend the point of attack. The people knew that between them and
the enemy there were strong and heavily armed forts; and in these