noon
Early and all his men would be kept too busy to see the march of Crook and his force on his flank , and Dick , like Warner , became sure that the great movement would be a success . But their progress , owing to the nature of the ground and the need to keep under cover , was slow . It seemed to Dick that they marched an interminable time under the trees , while the battle flashed and roared in the plain . He saw noon pass and the sun rise to the zenith . He saw the brilliant light dim on the eastern mountains , and they were still marching through the forests . The battle was now behind them and the sun was very low , but the command halted and turned toward the east . Nevertheless , they were still hidden by the woods and the low hills of the valley .