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"It seeht"

"Yes You knoe have not details yet There's been heavy

fighting, though"

"Is it a general engagement?"

"Oh, yes! All in that could be in And some that had no

business to be in They say, Johnston has reinforced

Beauregard; but they are totally routed, I believe So it is

said"

"Who says it?"

"The accounts fro

in all the tiratulate you

I know you are loyal Mrs Sand- ford will be rejoiced Good

afternoon"

It was too sudden, too soon, and too confused I could not

breathe freely yet Johnston reinforced Beauregard? That was

just what Patterson was expected to prevent; ought to have

prevented Then, probably, Patterson had done no fighting? I

was pondering, when I suddenly found Major Fairbairn beside

ton

"Oh, Major," said I, "what is the news?"

"Firing down in Virginia, -" said the major, laconically

"Is it true, that a battle has been won by McDowell?"

"I wish it were," said he; "but in general it is safe not to

speak of a fight till it is over"

"Then it is not over?"

"I have not heard that it is"