noon
The day was hot , and the sun poured down his scorching rays upon the devoted soldiers as they pursued their weary march . They were fatigued by continued exertion , and some of the weary ones , when the sun approached the meridian , began to hope the great battle would not take place on that day . Tom Somers , nearly worn out by the tedious march , and half famished after the scanty breakfast of hard bread he had eaten before daylight , began to feel that he was in no condition to face the storm of bullets which he had been imagining . No orders came to halt at noon , though the crowded roads several times secured them a welcome rest : but on marched the weary soldiers , till the roar of cannon broke upon their ears ; and as they moved farther on , the rattling volleys of musketry were heard , denoting that the battle had already commenced . These notes of strife were full of inspiration to the loyal and patriotic in the columns . A new life was breathed into them . They were enthusiastic in the good cause , and their souls immediately became so big that what had been body before seemed to become spirit now .