It  was  a  grand  pageant,  the  long  column  of  bayonets  and
high-waving  flags.  Union  men  whose  homes  were  at  Fairfax
accompanied  the  march.  ^^It  does  my  eyes  good  to  see  the
troops  in  motion  at  last,"  said  one.  '^I  have  been  exiled
seven  weeks.  I  know  nothing  about  my  family,  although  I
have  been  within  a  dozen  miles  of  them  all  the  time.  I
came  from  the  North  three  years  ago.  The  Secessionists
hated  me,  they  threatened  to  hang  me,  and  I  had  to  leave
mighty  sudden."

The  head  of  (General  Tyler's  column  reached  Vienna  at  sun-
set. The  infantry  turned  into  the  fields,  while  the  artillery
took  positions  on  the  hills.  Near  the  railroad  was  a  large
woodpile,  behind  which  the  South  Carolinians  took  shelter,
when  they  fired  upon  the  Ohio  boys  on  the  cars.  It  was  con-
venient for  bivouac  fires,  and  the  men  helped  themselves  will-
ingly. There  I  received  instructions  from  Captain  Alexander,
of  the  engmeers,  an  old  campaigner  in  Mexico,  which,  during
the  four  years  of  the  war,  I  have  never  forgotten.
^^  Always  sleep  on  the  lee  side  of  your  bivouac  fire,"  he  said.
