It was a cruel and endless night of jerks, shrieks and stops punctuated by snores.

At every station, the trumpets were sounding precipitously as though the enemy were right upon them.

The soldiers from the South were hurrying to their posts, and at brief intervals another detachment of men was dragged along the rails toward Paris.

They all appeared gay, and anxious to reach the scene of slaughter as soon as possible.

Many were regretting the delays, fearing that they might arrive too late.