is lips were shut tight together,
which means a resolve to do at all costs what one has intended to do. I
still admit that the prophets and the sons of prophets live no more, but
I predict with absolute certainty that we will move in the morning."

The Vermonter's faith was justified. The army, being put in thorough
trim, started at dawn upon its momentous march. Wintry fogs were rising
from the great river and the submerged lowlands, and the air was full of
raw, penetrating chill. An abundant breakfast was served to everybody,
and then with warmth and courage the lads of the west and northwest
marched forward with eagerness to an undertaking which they knew would
be far greater than the capture of Fort Henry.

Dick and Pennington, as staff officers, were mounted, although the
horses that had been furnished to them were not much more than ponies.
Warner rode with Colonel Newcomb and Major Hertford, who led the slender
Pennsylvania detachment beside the Kentucky regiment. Thus the army
emerged from its camp and began the march toward the Cumberland. It was
now about fifteen thousand strong, but it expected reinforcements, and
its fleet held the command of the rivers.

As they entered the leafless forest Dick saw ahead of them, perhaps
a quarter of a mile away, a numerous band of horsemen wearing faded
Confederate gray. 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 Cum