Colonel Newcomb, who was sitting in his tent bending over maps with his
staff, summoned Dick.
"You are a Kentuckian, my lad," he said, "and I thought you might know
something about this region into which we are going."
"Not much, sir," replied Dick. "My home is much further west in a
country very different both in its own character and that of its people.
But I have been in the mountains two or three times, and I may be of
some help as a guide."
"I am sure you will do your best," said Colonel Newcomb. "By the way,
that young Vermont friend of yours, Warner, is to be on my staff also,
and it is very likely that you and he will go on many errands together."
"Can't we take Sergeant Whitley with us sometimes?" asked Dick boldly.
"So you can," replied the colonel, laughing a little. "I've noticed
that man, and I've a faint suspicion that he knows more about war than
any of us civilian officers."
"It's our task to learn as much as we can from these old regulars,"
said a Major Hertford, a man of much intelligence and good humor, who,
previous to the war, had been a lawyer in a small town. Alan Hertford
was about twenty-five and of fine manner and appearance.
"Well spoken, Major Hertford," said the thoughtful miner, Colonel
Newcomb. "Now, Dick, you can go, and remember that we are to start for
Washington early in the morning and take a train there for the north.
It will be the duty of Lieutenant Warner and yourself, as well as others,
to see that our men are ready to the last shoe for the journey.
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