Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1899-11-16
which, if successful, will bear witness

Which, II successful, will bear witness
to your loyalty"
Gen. Heath stood restlessly attentive.
while his chief proceeded: "You pos
sess the faculties requisite for a cav
airy leader to "a marked degree-dar-
ing, ingenuity, rapidity; features es-
pecially needed in an expedition have
in view"
why do you propose, general, to
trust me with command, handicapped
as I am, when there are so many others
who have never been smirched?"
Because they have not the ability to
do work for which you are conspicu-
ously fitted"
There was brief silence, which was
broken by the general in chief.
ut has been reported to me this
morning that Longstreet's corps is
about to be detached from Bragg's
army on Missionary Ridge, and moved
by the East Tennessee & Georgia rail-
road to Knoxville, with a view to crush
ing Burnside. 1t is extremely impor-
tant that 1 should know definitely if
this move be made. Burnside must be
warned and supported, while Bragg,
weakened by the loss of one of his most
efficient corps, may be attacked and de-
feated."
Gen. Heath's eye lighted.
''rhe means by which you propose to
gain this information
"a corps of observation posted near
the railroad to watch the passage of
trains
"Cavalry?"
eyes,
'How large a force?"
"What is the effective strength of
your brigade?'
give hundred men-a mere remnant
of the force l led at Chickamauga."
''Just the number I would desig-
nate"
Bragg will carefully protect the
line from our observation"
"You are right; he will keep bodies
of cavalry moving along the railroad,
in order not only to protect his bridges
and telegraph wires, but to preserve his
secret. My plan is for you to take your
brigade to some point midway between
here and Loudon, from which to make
forays, in the hope of encountering the
trains on which his troops are trans
ported. You may be able to slip be-
tween patrolling forces, or cut your
way through them by hard fighting"
There was long silence, during
which the commander smoked on, while
his subordinate pondered.
"Supposing the move be not made?"
said Gen. Heath, presently.
Il believe it will be made
''Then why not act accordingly"
'First, it is not certainty; second
ly, I do not care to weaken my army
by sending troops to support Burnside.
l wish the government to do that, and
the government would pay no atten-
ton to mere rumcr."
Him! You would be lucky if you
could move the war department on per-
feet evidence
10 this the commander made no re-
ply.
''Why not send a spy, instead of the
force you propose?" asked the subor-
dinate.
''First, because I could not trust a
spy who works for pay; secondly, be-
cause the government would not be
likely to pay attention to a spy's re-
port; thirdly, spy might be detected
by the enemy and never heard from;
fourthly, in case you discover a large
force moving by train, you may pos
sibly, by burning bridge, delay it, or
cut it in two. However, when near the
railroad you can exercise your own dis
erection as to sending spy, though I
should recommend you rather to use a
small accommodating party, so that,
from among a number, one may get
back to you with the information.
Lastly, you are to use all diligence in
communicating what you may learn to
Gen. Burnside at Knoxville"
There was another silence, at the end
of which Gen. Heath, in more softened
tone than he had yet used, said: 81
will perform the service, general" He
waited for his commander to speak
again, but there were only silent puffs
of tobacco smoke, while an occasional
gun doomed on Lookout mountain,
where the confederates had posted ar
tillery and were sending shells into the
town. Presently Gen. Heath asked:
'Shall forage on the country?'
''Certainly. We need all the rations
we can haul, here"
''Have you any further orders?"
ssNo."