The fog thickened yet more, but the Invincibles made their sure way through it, the different portions of the army marching in perfect coordination.  Gordon led three divisions of infantry, supported by a brigade of cavalry across the Shenandoah River and marched east of Fisher’s Hill.  Then he went along the slope of the Massanuttons, recrossed the river, and silently came in behind the left flank of the Union force under Crook.

Early himself, with two divisions of infantry and all the artillery, marched straight toward Cedar Creek, where he would await the sound of firing to tell him that Gordon had completed his great circling movement.  Then he would push forward with all his might, and he and Gordon appearing suddenly out of the fog and dark would strike sledge hammer blows from different sides at the surprised Union army.  It was a conception worthy of Old Jack himself, although there was less strength with which to deal the blows.

The Invincibles were with Early, and they arrived in position before Cedar Creek long before Gordon could complete his wide flanking movement.  Both artillery and infantry were up, and there was nothing for them to do but wait.  The officers dismounted and naturally those who led the Invincibles kept close together.  The wait was long.  Midnight came, and then the hours after it passed one by one.

It was late in the year, the eighteenth of October, and the night was chill.  The heavy fog which hung low made it chillier.  Harry as he stood by his horse felt it cold and damp on his face, but it was a true friend for all that.  Whether Happy wishing for the fog had made it come or not they could have found no better aid.

He could not see far, but out of the vapors came the sound of men moving, because they were restless and could not help it.  He heard too the murmur of voices, and now and then the clank of a cannon, as it was advanced a little.  More time passed.  It was the hour when it would be nearly dawn on a clear day, and thousands of hearts leaped as the sound of shots came from a distant point out of the fog.

CHAPTER XI

CEDAR CREEK

The Winchester Regiment and the rest of the cavalry returned to the Union army, and, on the memorable night of the eighteenth of October, they were north of Cedar Creek with the Eighth Corps, most of the men being then comfortably asleep in tents.  A courier had brought word to General Wright that all was quiet in front, and the same word was sent to Sheridan, who, returning, had come as far as Winchester where he slept that night, expecting to rejoin his command the next day.

But there were men of lower rank than Wright and Sheridan who were uneasy, and particularly so Sergeant Daniel Whitley, veteran of the plains, and of Indian ambush and battle.  None of the Winchester officers had sought sleep either in the tents or elsewhere, and, in the night, Dick stood beside the suspicious sergeant and peered into the fog.