Other scouts came, one after another, with the same report.

Harry saw the gravity with which the news was received, and he speedily gathered from the talk of those about him that Lee must abandon his advance to the Pennsylvania capital and turn and fight, or be isolated far from Virginia, the Southern base.
Stuart and the cavalry were still absent on a great raid.

Lee's orders to Stuart were not explicit, and the cavalry leader's ardent soul gave to them the widest interpretation.

Now they felt the lack of his horsemen, who in the enemy's country could have obtained abundant information.

A spy had brought them the news that the Army of the Potomac had crossed the Potomac and was marching on a parallel line with them, but at that point their knowledge ended.