quietly　as　possible。〃
  Most　of　the　men　were　already　fast　asleep；　but　as　soon　as　they
  learned　that　there　was　a　prospect　of　active　work　all　were　full　of
  life　and　animation。　　The　girths　of　the　saddles　were　tightened；
  swords　buckled　on；　and　revolvers　carefully　examined　before　being
  placed　in　the　holsters。　　Many　of　the　men　carried　repeating　rifles；
  and　the　magazines　were　filled　before　these　were　slung　across　the
  riders'　shoulders。
  In　a　few　minutes　the　three　troops　were　mounted　and　in　readiness
  for　a　start；　and　almost　directly　afterward　Colonel　Jones　himself
  rode　up　and　took　the　command。　　A　thrill　of　satisfaction　ran　through
  the　men　as　he　did　so；　for　it　was　certain　that　he　would　not　himself
  be　going　in　command　of　the　detachment　unless　the　occasion　was
  an　important　one。　For　a　few　minutes　no　move　was　made。
  〃I　suppose　the　others　are　going　to　join　us　here；〃　Vin　cent　said　to
  the　officer　next　him。
  〃I　suppose　so；〃　he　replied。　　〃We　lie　in　tbe　middle　of　the　cavalry
  brigade　with　two　regiments　each　side　of　us；　so　it　is　likely　enough
  this　is　the　gathering　place。　　Yes；　I　can　hear　the　tramping　of　horses。〃
  〃And　I　felt　a　spot　of　rain；〃　Vincent　said。　　〃It　has　been　lightning　for
  some　time。　　I　fear　we　are　in　for　a　wet　ride。〃
  The　contingent　from　the　other　regiments　soon　arrived；　and　just　as
  the　last　came　up　General　Stuart　himself　appeared　and　took　his
  place　at　the　head　of　the　party；　now　some　500　strong。　　Short　as　the
  time　had　been　since　Vincent　felt　the　first　drop；　the　rain　was　now
  coming　down　in　torrents。　　One　by　one　the　bright　flames　of　the　fires
  died　down；　and　the　darkness　became　so　intense　that　Vincent　could
  scarcely　see　the　officer　on　his　right　hand。
  〃I　hope　the　man　who　rode　up　with　the　general；　and　is　no　doubt　to
  be　our　guide；　knows　the　country　well。　　It　is　no　joke　finding　our　way
  through　a　forest　on　such　a　night　as　this。〃
  〃I　believe　Stuart's　got　eyes　like　a　cat；〃　the　officer　said。　〃Sometimes
  on　a　dark　night　he　has　come　galloping　up　to　a　post　where　I　was　in
  command；　when　one　could　scarcely　see　one's　hand　before　one。　　It
  never　seems　to　make　any　difference　to　him；　day　or　night　he　rides
  about　at　a　gallop。〃
  〃He　trusts　his　horse；〃　Vincent　said。　　〃That's　the　only　way　in　the
  dark。　　They　can　see　a　lot　better　than　we　can；　and　if　men　would　but
  let　them　go　their　own　way　instead　of　trying　to　guide　them　they
  would　seldom　run　against　anything。　　The　only　thing　is　to　lie　well
  down　on　the　horse's　neck；　otherwise　one　might　get　swept　out　of　the
  saddle　by　a　bough。　　It's　a　question　of　nerve；　　I　think　not　many　of　us
  would　do　as　Stuart　does；　and　trust　himself　entirely　to　his　horse's
  instinct。〃
  The　word　was　now　passed　down　the　line　that　perfect　silence　was　to
  be　observed；　and　that　they　were　to　move　forward　in　column；　the
  ranks　closing　up　as　much　as　possible　so　as　not　to　lose　touch　of
  each　other。　　With　heads　bent　down；　and　blankets　wrapped　round
  them　as　cloaks；　the　cavalry　rode　off　through　the　pouring　rain。　　The
  thunder　was　clashing　overhead；　and　the　flashes　of　the　lightning
  enabled　them　to　keep　their　places　in　close　column。　　They　went　at　a
  rapid　trot；　and　even　those　who　were　ready　to　charge　a　body　of　the
  enemy；　however　numerous；　without　a　moment's　hesitation；
  experienced　a　feeling　of　nervousness　as　they　rode　on　in　the
  darkness　through　the　thick　forest　on　their　unknown　errand。　　That
  they　were　going　northward　they　knew；　and　knew　also；　after　a　short
  time；　that　they　must　be　entering　the　lines　of　the　enemy。　　They　saw
  no　signs　of　watch…fires；　for　these　would　long　since　have　been
  quenched　by　the　downpour。　　After　half　an　hour's　brisk　riding　all
  knew　by　the　sharp　sound　of　the　beat　of　the　horses'　hoofs　that　they
  had　left　the　soft　track　through　the　forest　and　were　now　upon　a
  regular　road。
  〃Thank　goodness　for　that！〃　Vincent　said　in　a　low　tone　to　his　next
  neighbor。　　〃I　don't　mind　a　brush　with　the　enemy；　but　I　own　I　don't
  like　the　idea　that　at　any　moment　my　brains　may　be　knocked　out　by
  the　branch　of　a　tree。〃
  〃I　quite　agree　with　you；〃　the　other　replied；　〃and　I　fancy　every　man
  felt　the　same。〃
  There　was　no　doubt　as　to　this。　　Hitherto　no　sound　had　been　heard
  save　the　jingling　of　accouterments　and　the　dull　heavy　sound　of　the
  horses'　tread；　but　now　there　could　be　heard　mingled　with　these　the
  buzz　of　voices；　and　occasionally　a　low　laugh。　　They　were　so
  accustomed　to　wet　that　the　soaking　scarce　inconvenienced　them。
  They　were　out　of　the　forest　now；　and　felt　sure　of　their　guide；　and
  as　to　the　enemy；　they　only　longed　to　discover　them。
  For　another　hour　the　rapid　advance　continued；　and　all　felt　sure　that
  they　must　now　have　penetrated　through　the　enemy's　lines　and　be
  well　in　his　rear。　　At　last　they　heard　a　challenge　of　sentry。　　Then
  Stuart's　voice　shouted；　〃Charge！〃　and　at　full　gallop　they　rode　into
  the　village　at　Catlet's　Station　on　the　Orange　and　Alexandria
  railroad；　where　General　Pope　had　his　headquarters。　　　Another
  minute　and　they　were　in　the　midst　of　the　enemy's　camp；　where　the
  wildest　confusion　reigned。　　The　Federal　officers　rushed　from　their
  teats　and　made　off　in　the　darkness；　but　the　soldiers；　who　were
  lying　on　the　line　of　railroad；　leaped　to　their　feet　and　opened　a
  heavy　fire　upon　their　invisible　foes。　　Against　this　the　cavalry；
  broken　up　in　the　camp；　with　its　tents；　its　animals；　and　its　piles　of
  baggage；　could　do　little；　for　it　was　impossible　to　form　them　up　in
  the　broken　and　unknown　ground。
  The　quarters　of　Pope　were　soon　discovered；　he　himself　had
  escaped；　leaving　his　coat　and　hat　behind。　　Many　of　his　officers
  were　captured；　and　in　his　quarters　were　found　a　box　of　official
  papers　which　were　invaluable；　as　among　them　were　copies　of　his
  letters　asking　for　reinforcements；　lists　giving　the　strength　and
  position　of　his　troops；　and　other　particulars　of　the　greatest　value　to
  the　Confederates。　No　time　was　lost；　as　the　firing　would　set　the
  whole　Federal　army　on　the　alert；　and　they　might　find　their　retreat
  cut　off。　　Therefore　placing　their　prisoners　in　the　center；　and　taking
  the　box　of　papers　with　them；　the　cavalry　were　called　off　from　the
  camp；　and　without　delay　started　on　their　return　ride。
  They　did　not　take　the　road　by　which　they　had　come；　but　made　a
  long　detour；　and　just　as　daylight　was　breaking　re…entered　the
  Confederate　lines　without　having　encountered　a　foe　from　the　time
  of　their　leaving　Catlet's　Station。　Short　as　their　stay　in　the　camp　had
  been；　few　of　the　men　bad　returned　empty　handed。　　The　Northern
  army　was　supplied　with　an　abundance　of　excellent　food　of　all
  descriptions；　forming　the　strongest　possible　contrast　to　the
  insufficient　ratious　upon　which　the　Confederate　troops　existed；　and
  the　troopers　had　helped　themselves　to　whatever　they　could　lay
  hands　upon　in　the　darkness　and　confusion。
  Some　rode　in　with　a　ham　slung　on　each　side　of　their　saddle；　others
  had　secured　a　bottle　or　two　of　wine　or　spirits。　Some　had　been
  fortunate　enough　to　lay　hands　on　sonic　tins　of　coffee　or　a　canister
  of　tea；　luxuries　which　for　months　had　been　unknown　to　them　save
  when　they　were　captured　from　the　enemy。　　The　only　article
  captured　of　no　possible　utility　was　General　Pope's　coat；　which　was
  sent　to　Richmond；　where　it　was　hung　up　for　public　inspection；　a
  wag　sticking　up　a　paper　beside　it；　〃This　is　the　coat　in　which
  General　Pope　was　going　to　ride　in　triumph　into　Richmond。　The
  coat　is　here；　but　the　general　has　not　yet　arrived。〃
  Tile　Confederates　had　lost　but　two　or　three　men　from　the　fire　of
  the　Federal　infantry；　and　they　were　in　high　spirits　at　the　success　of
  their　raid。　　No　sooner　had　General　Lee　informed　himself　of　the
  contents　of　the　papers　and　the　position　of　the　enemy's　forces　than
  he　determined　to　strike　a　heavy　blow　at　him；　and　General　Jackson；
  who　had　been　sharply　engaged　with　the　enemy　near　Warrenton；
  was　ordered　to　make　a　long　detour；　to　cross　the　Blue　Ridge
  mountains　through　Thoroughfare　Gap；　to　fall　upon　Pope's　rear　and
  cut　his　communications　with　Washington；　and　if　possible　to
  destroy　the　vast　depot　of　stores　collected　at　Manassas。
  The　cavalry；　under　Stuart；　were　to　accompany　him。　The　march
  would　he　a　tremendous　one；　the　danger　of　thus　venturing　into　the
  heart　of　the　enemy's　country　immense；　but　the　results　of　such　an
  expedition　would；　if　successful；　be　great；　for　Lee　himself　was　to
  advance　with　his　army　on　Pope's　flank；　and　there　was　therefore　a
  possibility　of　the　utter　defeat　of　that　general　before　he　could　be
  joined　by　the　army　marching　to　reinforce　him　from
  Fredericksburg。
  It　was　on　Monday　the　25th　of　August　that　Jackson　started　on　his
  march；　ascending　the　banks　of　the　Rappahannock；　and　crossed　the
  river　at　a　ford；　dragging　his　artillery　with　difficulty　up　the　narrow
  and　rocky　road　beyond。　　There　was　not　a　moment　to　be　lost；　for　if
  the　news　reached　the　enemy　the　gorge　known　as　Thoroughfare　Gap
  would　be　occupied；　and　the　whole　object　of　the　movement　be
  defeated。　　Onward　the　force　pushed；　pressing　on　through