A NIGHT WITH THE FOURTH CORPS. 89 



few trees and a high hedge, that ran along some abandoned 

 or unused grounds or game preserves at its top, would hide 

 what fire might be built from the pi'ying eyes of some prowl- 

 ing hussar or vigilant scouting party of the enemy. Here the 

 post was established, and the lieutenant who was to have 

 charge of the fore-post started at once with his command to 

 a point about a quarter of a mile farther in advance, where he 

 likewise placed his men in a sheltered nook, and proceeded to 

 relieve the cavalrymen. We were now on the turnpike already 

 mentioned, and soon established communication with the rest 

 of the line of advanced pickets on our right and left. Noth- 

 ing of the enemy was visible, and everything about was as si- 

 lent as if thousands of men with hundreds of horses were not 

 lying " in all the country 'round." The day, save for the last 

 warm flush in the heavens in the west, was gone, and the stars 

 shone down on the peaceful landscape from an unclouded sky ; 

 there was a light breeze, and the tall poplars that bordered the 

 highway, stretching gray in a long line till lost in the gathering 

 shadows, slightly moved their feathery tops; the faint voices 

 of the nio-ht were heard, and the air was frao-rant with the 

 perfume of early evening, and cool and moist with the gently 

 falling dew. Silently the sentries stood under the poplar-trees, 

 their watchful eyes and ready ears strained to catch the slight- 

 est movement or hear the least suspicious sound in their front. 

 Returning to the post first established, I found that, with true 

 soldier's readiness, the men had made themselves as comforta- 

 ble as possible, had improvised a wind-screen and "fire-ring" 

 from a lot of branches and brush they had gathered, and had 

 constructed a most cosey and warm little hut — if hut a struct- 

 ure barely four feet high and wide, and about six or seven 

 feet long, could so be designated — for the accommodation of 

 the two officers in charge. Their fire was burning brightly, 



