The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1912-06-22

I couldn't git near 'nough to bear their
talk. Ne see. gln'ral. n WIS a line o
fires what kept me back more'n the
pickets. fer thar wasn't a place but
what was lit up Thar was sure some
sorter movement goln' on thar. but !
couldn't make head ner tail to 1t. 'cept
that all them troops that ] saw was
marchin' west"
Then Rosecrans spoke.
This looks decidedly serious to me.
gentlemen. and | feel sufficient faith
in Sergeant Kings report to act imme-
diately upon IL II 1t he true that
Johnston is massing against otr right
and has left the ford Of Coultpr's un.
guarded. this offers us an opportunity
for u co%untermarcb IL we only move
swiftly enough. Hand me the maps.
major.
Il am fully aware Of the danger in
volved in dividing our force In the
presence of the enemy" he said at last.
lifting his eyes To the faces anxiously
peril will be even greater IL we per
nit the enemy to carry out their pres
ent plans unchecked. II at this June.
lure we can only strike unexpectedly
In their rear we shall win. The aid
of surprise will be with us. and II IL
worth much to al army just 10 feel
that they are Do the aggressive. Smiley.
ride 10 McGirtb and Williams: tell
them to mass their briGades opposite
Minprsville and To hold the ford at all
cost: explain the situation TO them
fully. Wyatt. have Colts brigade sta
toned In reserve in the hills back of
the town. Now. Parker. Seaman. Just
and Shea. start the remainder OF our
troops on forced march to Coulter's
ford. Let there he no delay. no even
TO cook rationS Wilson will n first
with the cavalry. to he Immediately
followed by Sheridan's brigade These
will proceed by the river road. while
the others will follow the ridge as rap
idly AZ they can he made ready. Fur
Their orders will reach them at Coul-
ter's. That Is all. gentlemen"
R~osecrans. the major. the scout Dan.
iels and myself were left alone in the
room. The generals glance fell upon
me.
do you need rest. sergeant"
mo. SIR"
"Glad of that. as I require your serv.
fees. There is no battery | can assign
you 10 nj present. but | judge from
your story that you ride well and you
should know the country thoroughly
bet tween the Landing and Salter's
creek. I am going to appoint you
temporarily on my stan with the rank
Of lieutenant and place you in COM
mand of the advance scouts. Major.
see that Lieutenant King is furnished
with a suitable uniform and n good
horse and that be and his command
get away Mt once."
Twenty minutes later I was gaIlop-
ing down the river road with an odd
following nj my heels.
There were twenty all told. excep-
tionaliy well mounted. ! observed AT a
glance. There was. 10 be sure. a SEM
Dlance OF uniform. but exhibiting
marks OF rough service. and represent
alive of every department. so that no
two men appeared similarly attired-
They had n sturdy and resolute fighting
appearance that pleased me. Perhaps
a dozen were unmistakably OF the
ounta white type-gaunt. unshav-
en-. slow of speech. their keen. restless
eyes searching every covert for IA pos
sible enemy In ambush. The others
were mostly young. reckless looking
fellows. picked from the ranks of va
rious organizations because too rest
less for the discipline of regular COM
mand. I felt a hope that | might he
retained in command and thus given
opportunity TO test their mettle.
"Daniels." I said. drawing back my
horse till | rode beside him., this looks
an odd command gwen me. What are
they-eniisted men?"
'Some OF EN- are" he answered
slowly. shifting his eyes over the rab-
Bile behind. but Their mountain men
mostly are jus volunteer scouts. pick
ed up we're in ther deestrict cause they
know their way round | reckon may
be it's n tough lookin' outfit from a So
jerin' pint q view. but thar's some
dern good scout a-ridin' thar benin
yer. That yaller headed teller thar has
been mostly my partner lately. Hes
irish. name Con O'Brien: deserted
twice from ther Ninth Illinois cavalry,
but since they put him scoutin thar
amt no JOB too blame hard fer him ter
tackle. | tell We. %leftanant. scouts is
born. not made"
How long have you been at III"
'Oh. mostly since the war begun. ]
started in with Buell in Kentucky
You came from up there!'
He looked at me almost suspiciously.
Then his eyes shifted To the scene In
front.
~ reckon | was born bout ten mile
from yere. over yonder on Their east
ridge" His eyes narrowed. a new
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