s long hair flying wide.
When he reappeared fifteen minutes later, we were trotting across the
parade ground to meet him. He was mounted, not on his own charger, but
on the colonel's famous thorough-bred bay. Then we knew a hard ride
must be in prospect.

"What! one of the boys?" cried Miller, as he saw me. "He's too young."

"He's very light, sir; tough as hickory. I guess he'll do," said
Kennedy.

"Well, no time to change now. Follow me! But, hang it, you've got your
carbines! Oh, I forgot! Keep pistols only! throw down your sabres and
carbines--anywhere--never mind the mud!"

As we still hesitated to throw down our clean guns, he shouted: "Down
with them--anywhere! Now, boys, after me, by twos! Trot--gallop!"

Away we went, not a man jack of us knew for where or what. The colonel
and officers, standing grouped before regimental headquarters,
volleyed a cheer at us. It was taken up by the whole regiment; it was
taken up by the brigade; it was repeated by regiment after regiment of
infantry as we galloped through the great camp toward the left front
of the army. The speed at which Miller led over a rough corduroy road
was extraordinary, and all the men suspected some desperate enterprise
afoot.

Red and brazen was the set of the sun. I remember it well, after we
got clear of the forts, clear of the breastworks, clear of the
reserves, down the long slope and across the wide ford of Grimthorpe's
Creek, never drawing rein.

The lieutenant led by ten yards or so. He had ordered each two to take
as much distance from the other two in advance; but we rode so fast
that the water from the heels of his horse and from the heels of each
two splashed into the faces of the following men.

From the ford we loped up a hill, and passed the most advanced
infantry pickets, who laughed and chaffed us, asking us for locks of
our hair, and if our mothers knew we were out, and promising to report
our last words faithfully to the folks at home.

Soon we turned to the left again, swept close by several cavalry
videttes, and knew then that we were bound for a ride through a
country that might or might not be within Lee's outer lines, at that
time extended so thinly in many places that his pickets were far out
of touch with one another. To this day I do not know precisely where
we went, nor precisely what for. Soldiers are seldom informed of the
meaning of their movements.

What I do know is what we did while I was in the ride. As