d their numbers. The cannonade in
his front had died down. He was a full-faced man, ruddy and stalwart,
and with his powerful army of veterans he felt equal to anything.
There was nothing to indicate that the Southern army was not in full
retreat, as he had stated in his dispatch earlier in the day. The
thought of Jackson had passed out of his mind for the time, because his
long columns, he was sure, were marching farther and farther away.

Hooker, as the cool of the later afternoon, so pleasant after the heat
of the day, came on, felt an increase of satisfaction. All his great
forces would be massed in the morning. Now and then he heard in the
east the far sound of cannon like muttering thunder on the horizon,
but after a while it ceased entirely. He heard that distant thunder in
the south, too, but it passed farther and farther away, and he felt sure
that it came from his valiant guns hanging on the rear guard of the
retreating Jackson.

One wonders what must be the feelings of a man who, sitting in apparent
security, is suddenly plunged into a terrible pit. Commanders less
able than Hooker have had better luck. What had he to fear? With one
hundred and thirty thousand veterans of the Army of the Potomac within
call, almost any other general in his place would have felt a like
security. But he had not fathomed fully the daring and skill of the two
men who confronted him.

It is related that on the approach of that memorable evening there was a
remarkable peace and quiet at the Chancellor House itself. Hooker was
conversing quietly with his aides. Officers inside the house were
copying orders. The distant mutter of the guns that came now and then
was harmonious and rather soothing. The east was already darkening and
it seemed that a quiet sun would set over the Wilderness.

The cannonade in the south seemed to pass into a new direction, but
the officers at the Chancellor House did not give it much attention.
Hooker was still quiet and confident. Suddenly a terrific crash of
cannon fire came from a point in the northwest. It was followed by
another and then others, so swiftly that they merged. It never ceased
for an instant and it rapidly rolled nearer. Hooker and his officers
leaped to their feet and gazed appalled at the forest whence came those
ominous sounds. An officer ran upon the plank road and took a look
through his glasses.

"Good God!" he cried, as he turned quickly back. "Here they c