was. Sheridan was but five feet five inches
in height and he weighed in the momentous campaign now about to begin,
only one hundred and fifteen pounds! As slight as a young boy, he gave,
nevertheless, an impression of the greatest vigor and endurance.

He reined in his horse a score of yards in front of the long line and was
about to speak to Colonel Hertford, who sat his saddle before it, Colonel
Winchester and Colonel Bedford on either side of him, but there was a
sudden interruption.

Fifteen hundred sabers flashed aloft, the blazing sunlight glittering
for a moment on their broad blades. Then they swept in mighty curves,
all together, and from fifteen hundred throats thundered:

"Sheridan! Sheridan! Sheridan!"

The sabers made another flashing curve, sank back into their scabbards,
and the men were silent.

Sheridan's tanned face flushed deeply, and a great light leaped up in his
eyes, as he received the magnificent salute. His own sword sprang out,
and made the salute in reply. Then, riding a little closer, he said in a
loud, clear tone that all could hear:

"Men, I have been looking for you! I have come forward to meet you!
I knew that you were great horsemen, gallant soldiers, but I see that
you are even greater and more gallant men than I had hoped. The Army of
the Potomac has sent its best as a gift to the Army of the Shenandoah.
Men, I thank you for this welcome, the warmest I have ever received!"

Again the sabers flashed aloft, made their glittering curve, and again
from muscular throats came the thunderous cheer:

"Sheridan! Sheridan! Sheridan!"

Then the young general shook hands heartily with the three colonels,
the young aides were introduced, and with Sheridan himself at their head
the whole column swept off toward the north, and to the camp of the Army
of the Shenandoah which lay but a little distance away.

CHAPTER VI

THE FISHERMEN

The welcome that the column found in Sheridan's camp was as warm as they
had hoped, and more. Fifteen hundred sabers such as theirs were not
to be valued lightly, and Sheridan knew well the worth of three such
colonels as Hertford, Winchester and Bedford, with all three of whom
he was acquainted personally, and with whose records he was familiar.
Dick, Pennington and Warner also came in for his notice, and he recalled
having seen Dick at the fierce battle of Perryville in Kentucky, a fact
of which Dick was very proud.

"Now don't becom