noon
Ashby , together with Chew 's battery of horse artillery , kept the pike the other side of Kernstown . In front of the infantry stretched a great open marshy meadow , utterly without cover . Beyond this to the north , rose low hills , and they were crowned with Federal batteries , while along the slopes and in the vales between showed masses of blue infantry , clearly visible , in imposing strength and with bright battle-flags . It was high noon , beneath a brilliant sky . There were persistent musicians on the northern side ; all the blue regiments came into battle to the sound of first-rate military bands . The grey listened . `` They sure are fond of ` Yankee Doodle ! '