The Goreville Volunteers now found themselves supplied again with tents and camping in true military style near the banks of the Potomac. As soon as everything was in running order, Captain Paulding made a four days’ trip to Goreville, returning with twenty-two new volunteers and several packing cases filled with articles sent to the soldiers from home. Louis received an extra supply of clothing from his father and a small box of dainties from his mother and sisters. There was also a small pocket Bible, to replace one which had been lost on the field of Bull Run, and on the fly-leaf of this his mother had written a loving dedication, admonishing him to peruse the good Book daily and to live according to its precepts. Month after month went by after this and the army in and about the capital lay inactive. There were small fights here and there along the river and some miles in the interior of Virginia, but they did not amount to much. In the meantime operations in the West went on spiritedly. In Tennessee, Grant had taken Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, and this cheering news caused much enthusiasm throughout the Union. Louis had hoped to go home on furlough throughout Christmas week, but the permit could not be obtained, and he made the most of the holidays in camp, in company with Harry and the rest of his friends. Again the ladies of Washington showed their goodness of heart by sending out Christmas pies and other goodies, and never were gifts more appreciated by the waiting boys in blue. In the meantime, Andy was far from idle. From Manassas the Montgomery Grays moved to Centerville and went into temporary camp. Every one was in the best of spirits throughout the Confederate army, and Andy and the others thought the orders to advance upon Washington might come at any moment. Recruits were coming in rapidly, and soon over fifty thousand men lay scattered within two days’ march of our capital. “We ought to do something,” said Andy to Leroy Wellington, on a crisp, cool day in October. “It’s a shame to keep us idle when all the fellows are so anxious to fight.” “I am with you, Andy; I’d be willing to risk almost anything for some sort of an encounter.” The wishes of the pair were gratified a few days later. General McClellan, in order to learn how close the Confederates were, and what their actual numbers might be, ordered several thousands of the Union troops to Drainesville. This done, others were ordered to Ball’s Bluff, a rocky plateau overlooking the Potomac. Word of this was received by the Confederate leaders, and a counter demonstration ensued, with the result that the Union forces were caught on the Bluff to the number of nearly two thousand, one-half of whom were either killed or wounded.