They
were to be sent by General Thomas to General Grant at Cairo, Illinois."
"And you would like to join them."
"If you please, sir."
"In view of your services your wish is granted. It is likely that
General Grant will need all the men whom he can get. A detachment
leaves here early in the morning for Elizabethtown, where it takes the
train for Louisville, proceeding thence by water to Cairo. You shall go
with these men. They are commanded by Colonel Winchester. You may go
now, Mr. Mason."
He turned back to his papers and Dick, thinking his manner somewhat curt,
left his tent. But he was pleased to hear that the detail was commanded
by Colonel Winchester. Arthur Winchester was a man of forty-one or
two who lived about thirty miles north of Pendleton. He was a great
landowner, of high character and pleasant manners. Dick had met him
frequently in his childhood, and the Colonel received him with much
warmth.
"I'm glad to know, Dick," he said familiarly, "that you're going with
us. I'm fond of Pendleton, and I like to have one of the Pendleton boys
in my command. If all that we hear of this man Grant is true, we'll see
action, action hot and continuous."
They rode to Elizabethtown, where Dick was compelled to leave his great
horse for Buell's men, and went by train to Louisville, going thence
by steamer down the Ohio River to Cairo, at its junction with the
Mississippi, where they stood at last in the presence of that general
whose name was beginning to be known in the west.
Pages:
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173