While the telegraph all over the North told the story of his coming, and many thought that Lee's whole army was at hand, Jenkins turned back.

His was merely a small vanguard, and Lee had not yet drawn together his whole army into a compact body.
The advance of Lee with a part of his army was harassed moreover by the Northern cavalry, which continued to show the activity and energy that it had displayed so freely at Pleasanton's battle with Stuart.

Harry, besides bearing messages for troops to come up, often saw, as he rode back and forth, the flame of firing on the skyline, and he heard the distant mutter of both rifle and cannon fire.

Some of these engagements were fierce and sanguinary.

In one, more than a thousand men fell, a half to either side.
Harry was shot at several times on his perilous errands, and once he had a long gallop for safety.