Retracing my steps as rapidly as possible, I returned to the hill, and directed Frank to ride with all consistent speed to General Morell or General Porter, who would no doubt be met advancing on the road, and report that the enemy had taken such a position that in order to reach his right flank it would be necessary for the Union troops to cross to the west side of the Central railroad some miles south of Hanover Court-House.  I directed him to report also my doubt as to whether Branch had really moved or had been reenforced, and to say that I should endeavour at once to resolve this doubt, and to report again through Jones.

Frank rode away on his mission.  It was about seven o’clock.

I put on the gray uniform.  A lump came into my throat when I saw that all the rents had been mended, but I had no time to give to sentiment.

My glass was slung over my shoulder beneath the gum-blanket, with which I had been covered all night as a protection from the rain.  I took nothing else with me except my canteen.  I directed Jones to remain where he was, and if I should not return in one hour, to conclude that I was entangled with the enemy, and that I could not get away in time; that he must assume from my absence that the rebel right extended far, because if it did not I should return to him; in one hour, therefore, he must start to meet our advancing troops; in that case he was not to encumber himself with my horse; I might be able to get back to the spot later in the day.  I added that I seriously doubted my ability to get back before the advance of the Union troops should reach the ground, and impressed upon Jones the necessity of communicating with General Morell before dispositions for attack had gone too far.  He comprehended the situation, and promised to follow my instructions.

Again I crept up to the spot from which I had seen the vedette; he was yet there, still facing south.  His line, therefore, stretched across the branch.  I retired a hundred yards or more to a gully which favoured me, and crept to my left up the hill.  At the top of the hill I entered thicker woods.  I stood behind a tree, and looked and listened.  Drums could be heard toward the north, and seemingly nearer than before; I thought I could hear the long roll, and feared that the Union advance was already known by the Confederates.

Now I got on my hands and knees, and began to crawl forward very slowly.  My gum-blanket hindered me; I took it off, put my glass in it, folded and strapped it, and put it over my shoulder.  I was already wet.  Again I went forward slowly.  Soon I saw another vedette, facing south.  I retired, and made progress rapidly through the woods to my left; then I crawled up a long distance.  I had hoped to be able to determine the right of the enemy’s pickets and then return to Jones and send him with my report, while I should remain at the rendezvous to guide the troops when Jones should have succeeded