o the top of Looking-Glass Mountain and along Middle-ton's Ridge. It
was the arrival of Sherwood from Victor's Hill with two full corps of as
good soldiers as ever marched under the American flag. Cheer upon cheer
from both our armies rang out and gladdened the hearts of all.

"The next day Gen. Silent was handed a note by a cavalryman. He examined
it, and found that it bore information to the effect that Longpath had
failed to capture Knoxburg, but had been repulsed by Broomfield and was
then marching rapidly to re-enforce Biggs. On inquiry the General found
that the note was written by a lady, who was then some ten miles away at
a farmhouse. The cavalryman stated that she was very anxious that Gen.
Silent should get the note that day, and that she had also told him to
say to the General that she was the same lady who had given him certain
information at Nashua some days before, and that she informed the bearer
of the contents of the note and requested him to destroy it if in danger
of being captured. Gen. Silent consulted Gen. Papson and found that he
had implicit faith in her statements, as he said she had given Rosenfelt
truthful and important information twice as to the numbers and movements
of the enemy. Gen. Silent said:

"'This being so, we must drive Biggs from his position before Longpath
can join him.'

"It was then raining and blowing a perfect gale, and Gen. Papson said
that it might be well to delay until the storm was over. This Gen.
Silent assented to, but directed that all preparations be made for the
attack, so as to be in perfect readiness at a moment's notice.

"Sherwood, however, had not yet succeeded in getting to the position
assigned him. He was struggling against rain, wind, and high water. In
crossing Little Combination River to the north side the pontoon bridge
gave way, and Gen. Osterman and his division of Sherwood's command were
completely cut off and left on the south side of the stream. Silent
ordered him to proceed up the river to a point opposite Middleton's
Ridge with the remainder of his command. By this time the freshet was
so great that it was impossible to repair the bridge. So Osterman was
ordered, if he could not get across by eight o'clock the next morning,
to report to Gen. Hord. Sherwood finally succeeded in moving the rest
of his command to the point indicated. Pontoons were now necessary for
bridging the river at this point in order to cross the troops again over
to the s