They were the cavalry of Forrest, but they were too
few to stay the Union advances. There was a scattered firing of rifles,
but the heavy brigades of Grant moved steadily on, and pushed them out
of the way. Forrest could do no more than gallop back to the fort with
his men and report that the enemy was coming at last.
"Those fellows ride well," said Pennington, as the last of Forrest's
cavalrymen passed out of sight, "and if we were not in such strong force
I fancy they would sting us pretty hard."
"We'll see more of 'em," said Dick. "This is the enemy's country,
and we needn't think that we're going to march as easy as you please
from one victory to another."
"Maybe not," said Pennington, "but I'll be glad when we get Donelson.
I've been hearing so much about that place that I'm growing real
curious."
Their march across the woods suffered no further interruption.
Sometimes they saw Confederate cavalrymen at a distance in front,
but they did not try to impede Grant's advance. When the sun was well
down in the west, the vanguard of the army came within sight of the
fortress that stood by the Cumberland. At that very moment the troops
under Floyd, just arrived, were crossing the river to join the garrison
in the fortress.
Dick looked upon extensive fortifications, a large fort, a redoubt upon
slightly higher ground, other batteries at the water's edge, powerful
batteries upon a semi-circular hill which could command the river for a
long distance, and around all of these extensive works, several miles in
length, including a deep creek on the north.
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