two o'clock before
The first touch of the skirmishers had resulted in fifteen or twenty killed . But the action had been too far away to make any serious impression . Between the two armies crept the silvery thread of the little stream of Bull Run , its clear beautiful waters flashing in the July sun . Saturday night , the 20th , orders were issued to John 's regiment to be in readiness to advance against the enemy at two o'clock before day on Sunday morning . A thrill of fierce excitement swept the camp . They were loaded down with overcoats , haversacks , knapsacks and baggage , baggage , baggage without end . The single New York regiment to which he had attached himself required forty wagons to move its baggage .