noon
Meade might get across and attack , but his advantage was gone . The same spirit of relief pervaded the ranks , and the men sang their battle songs . There had been some fighting at one or two of the fords , but it did not amount to much , and no enemy hung on their rear . But no stop was made by the staff until noon , when a fire was made and food was cooked . Then Harry was notified that he and Dalton were to start that night with dispatches for Richmond . They were to ride through dangerous country , until they reached a point on the railroad , wholly within the Southern lines , when they would take a train for the Confederate capital . They were glad to go .