"I wonder how much longer we shall be held in reserve."
"A good while yet, to judge from what I can hear," he said. "I am authorized to move to the right, and of course that means that I shall be in greater demand there."
"I wish I could go with you," said I.
"Why should you hesitate to do so?" he asked; "what are your orders?"
"There has been no change. I have no orders at all except to keep the adjutant of the Eleventh informed as to my whereabouts."
"How frequently must you report in person?"
"There was nothing said about that. I suppose a note will do," said I.
"Your division was so severely handled at Williamsburg that I cannot think it will be brought into action soon unless there should be a general engagement. If you can report in writing every two or three days, you need not limit your work or your presence to any particular part of the line."
"But the right must be many miles from our division."
"No," said the Doctor; "from Hooker's division to your present right is not more than five miles; the distance will be greater, though, in a few days."