On the morning of April 29th, the soldiers were aroused from their slumbers by the beating

of the long roll.

What an ominous sound is the long roll to the soldier wrapped in his blanket and enjoying

the suites of sleep.

It is like a firebell at night.

It denotes battle.

It tells the soldier the enemy is moving.

It means haste and active preparation.

A battle is imminent.

The soldiers thus roused as if from their long sleep since Fredericksburg feel in a touch

of smooth.

The frightful scenes of Fredericksburg and Marie's hill rise up before them as a specter.

Others rush out of their tents, asking questions and making suppositions.

Others are busily engaged folding blankets, tearing down tents and making preparations

to move.

Companies formed into regiments and regiments into brigades.

The distant boom of cannon beyond the Rapa Hannick tells us that the enemy is to cross

the river again and try conclusions with the soldiers of Lee.

All expected a bloody engagement for the Federal Army had been greatly recruited under excellent

discipline and headed by fighting Joe Hooker.

He was one of the best officers in that army, and he himself had boasted that his was

the finest army that had ever been organized upon the planet.

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