skip de ribber and
neber stop 'til I be done gone whar dey done got no wa'.'

"'How many soldiers have they in Gen. Jackson's army?'

"'Well, I dunno, but I 'spec' dar am somewhar near a million ob dem,
sah. Dey's got de woods full ob hoss sogers, an' all de fiel's full ob
'em what walks. Den dey got big guns wid hosses. Oh, Laudy, massa, I
dunno, but dey's heaps ob dem.'

"'What were they doing when you came away?"

"'Dey was campin' 'bout ten miles, I 'spose. I walk mighty fas', and I
is monstrous tired. When dey start dis mornin' I get outside and go in
de woods and keep whar I see dem all de way. When dey stop I keep on.
Dey be here in de mornin', sho'. I knows dey will, massa.'

"This being about all Peter could ascertain, he thought perhaps it would
be as safe back towards the main army, so he returned, bringing old
'Dick' with him, that being his name. When Peter reported with Dick at
headquarters the General cross-questioned the old man in a manner that
would have done credit to a prosecuting attorney, and said to Peter:

"'Major, I guess the enemy intend to try our strength very soon.'

"He then said to Dick:

"'You can go around behind my quarters. You will find some colored
people there, with whom you will remain until after we have this fight.
You can then go where you please.'

"'Bress de Laud, Massa Genl, you gwine to make me stay heah and get
shotted?"

"'Well, I don't know whether you will get shot or not but you will stay
as I direct.'

"'Afore God, Massa Gen'l, you see dese heah 'backer sticks, (meaning his
legs), 'dey go, dey go if dey shoot; I can't hole 'em. I tried dem one
time, an' I tell you dey won't stay. You can't hole 'em, no, sah; dey
git ebery time--when you 'spec dem be stayin' dey's gwine.'

"The General laughed at his peculiar expressions and sent him away. The
position of the Union forces was an exceedingly good one for defensive
operations. The country all around was covered with heavy timber and
very thick underbrush, save a small opening or field on the right center
and to the rear of our right flank. The ground was very uneven, full
of streams, gulches, hills and hollows. The line of the Union troops
stretched from Hawk Run to Bull Gulch and Buck Lick Junction, the right
resting on Hawk Run and the left at or near the Junction, the center in
heavy timber quite a distance farther south than either flank. The right
of the line was commanded by Gen. Sherwood, the left by