“Boys, don’t you know it takes a lot of time to get everything in readiness for such an immense army as this?” said Captain Paulding one day, by way of explanation. “Think of the thousands of horses required for the wagons and batteries, the immense stock of rations, and hundreds of other things. Why, you must remember that the moving of such a body of men as we have here is like an exodus. But we’ll march before long, never fear.” Fourth of July was spent in camp in a lusty manner, the soldiers celebrating as much as their means allowed. In the evening bonfires blazed forth on every hand, making the vast camping-field as bright as day. There were orations, sham battles, and some of the boys in blue got up a minstrel show and an amateur circus, at both of which the fun was uproarious. It was like the comedy which precedes the tragic in a melodrama. At last, on the sixteenth of July, came the orders to break camp. The army had been divided into five grand divisions, each division moving forward by a different route. Soon every highway leading towards Fairfax Court House, Centerville, and Manassas Junction was filled with tramping soldiers, dashing cavalry, fifers and drummers and bands of music, with hundreds upon hundreds of heavy batteries plowing their way along through the dirt, and followed by thousands of provision and sutlers’ wagons, and ambulances; and last of all the carriages of politicians and others who were curious to see what was going to take place now the North was about to strike her first regular blow at the Confederacy. “My gracious, I had no idea that there were so many of us!” murmured Louis to Harry, as they stood in the ranks, waiting for their turn to move, and watching regiment after regiment of their comrades march by, with colors flying and every face full of hope and determination. “We ought to conquer by sheer force of numbers, if nothing else.” “They’ll have just as many men,” declared Moses Blackwell. “It’s a bloody struggle we have afore us, mark the words.” Louis had expected a fatiguing advance of fifteen or twenty miles, and he was rather surprised when, early in the afternoon, their company entered Fairfax Court House and they were ordered into camp for the night. The advance along the road had been made with caution, and although it was known the Confederates had outposts located along the routes these advance guards had fallen back as the boys in blue marched forward. Fairfax Court House was but a small town, and the majority of the inhabitants were thoroughly scared at the arrival of so many troops. Many of the men were away, in the service of the enemy, and the women viewed the appearance of each new soldier with much misgivings. “Spare me and you can take all I have!” wailed one old lady to Louis, as he appeared at her kitchen door for a pail of water. “Oh, do not kill me!”