Within the rude enclosure, which seemed to have been an old field, there was a busy, picturesque, enlivening scene. Camp fires were scattered all over the area, and around them were grouped the men—some cooking their rations; some eating their suppers; some drinking whiskey, smoking pipes, and playing cards, and some lying flat upon their stomachs, with their limbs extended, their elbows resting on the ground, and their heads bowed upon their hands, while, by the light of the blazing pine knots, they studied the pictorial papers which were a part of the plunder that had been taken from the captured sutler’s wagon. Through this crowd the captain conducted his party towards an old, common-looking and rather dilapidated farm-house that stood among its out-buildings at the farther end of the area. Beyond these buildings groups of cows and horses might be dimly seen. The whole place was a combination of a ruined farm and a military encampment. The house itself, on nearer approach, was seen to be a large, rude wooden building of one story, with a very steep roof, and with a rough piazza running the whole length of the front. One large door, with a window on each side, opened upon this. Here also were groups of men lounging on the steps and in the corners, while before the door a sentinel stood guard. Captain Bannister dismounted, and signed to his prisoners to do the same. Then he called a man to take the horses, and beckoned the prisoners to follow him. He led them by the front door into a large passage running through to the back of the house, and from which other doors opened leading into rooms on the right and left. This passage was dimly lighted by a tallow candle, stuck into a tin sconce nailed against the wall. Several soldiers were lounging here, and three or four were guarding a small group of prisoners at the farther end of the place. A sentinel stood before the second door on the left hand. “Remain here with your attendants if you please, Colonel, while I go in and make my report to my major,” said Captain Bannister, politely addressing his captive. Then turning to some of the lounging soldiers, he called them to come and guard these prisoners. Four of the men approached at his bidding, and gathered around Colonel Rosenthal and his young orderlies. Meanwhile the captain entered the second door on the left, which was guarded by a sentinel, and which was probably the office of the guerrilla chief. Colonel Rosenthal, left with his party, looked around upon the contracted scene, noticed the dilapidated walls, the uneven floor, the ricketty doors of the hall, and the ragged, wretched, famished aspect of its guerrilla occupants. Then he turned his eyes towards the extreme back of the place, where, in a dark corner, were the three other prisoners, with their guard about them.