Under Fire: A Tale of the Shenandoah Valley — page 127: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

120 ON THE EVE OF BATTLE. The Union Army was posted on three moderate hills, extending for three miles across the country, ch one a little back of the other. . The first and foremost one, some four or hve miles north of Fisher’s Hill, was held by the Army of West Virginia, under Crook : the second, half a mile to the rear of this by the Nineteenth Corps, under Emory, the turnpike running between them. ‘The third and last, still farther back, was occupied by the Sixth Corps, with 'Torbert’s superb cavalry covering its right flank. ‘The Confederate commander heard that Sheridan was in Washington, and at once resolved to attack his artiny before his return. On the night of the eighteenth of October, the Confederates crossed the mountains which separate the branches of the Shenandoah, and forded the north fork, marching in five columns. There was a dense fog at the time, wrapping every- thing in impenetrable darkness; but Harly knew the eround thoroughly, and, with trusty guides, was in no danger of being misled. He ordered all the men to leave their canteens be- hind, lest their clanking against the shanks of the bayonets should be heard by the Union pickets and give the alarm. His march was to be noiseless, and he directed that all orders should be given in a low tone, for although the movement was to be made with an army of thirty thousand men, it must be made with the utmost se- -crecy to insure success. Discovery would be fatal. The whole enterprise was hazardous beyond expres- sion. The Confederates, however, moved off toward the Union left unperceived, though, about two o’clock in the morning, some of the pickets: on duty reported ey. | heard a heavy, muffled tramp and rustling comicbooks co i