soon.

"They're probably watching us now through the fog and rain," said
Colonel Winchester to Dick as they left the last house of Nashville
behind. "They know every inch of these hills and valleys."

It was not a great distance to Murfreesborough, but they found the
marching slow. The feet of the horses sank deep in the mud and the
cannon and wagons were almost mired. But despite mud and rain and cold,
the army pressed bravely on. They were the same lads and their like who
had marched forward so hopefully to Donelson and Shiloh. Through the
rain and the soughing of wheels in the mud rolled their battle songs,
sung with all the spirit and fire of youth.

Colonel Winchester and all the officers helped with the cannon and
wagons and soon they were covered with mud. The Winchester regiment
was in the lead, and Sergeant Whitley suddenly pointing with a thick
forefinger, said:

"There are the Johnnies! Their pickets are waiting for us!"

Dick saw through the mist and rain a considerable body of men down the
road, most of them on horseback. He knew at once that they were Southern
pickets, and the eager lads around him, seeing them, knew it, too.
Not waiting for command they set up a shout and charged down the road.
Rifles instantly flashed through the rain and a sharp fire met them. Men
fell, but others pressed on with all the more zeal, seeing just beyond
the Southern pickets the roofs of a little town. Cannon shot also
whizzed among them, indicating that the Southern pickets were in strong
force.

But the Northern troops, full of vigor and zeal, swept back the pickets
and charged directly upon a larger force in the town beyond. A short
and fierce battle for the possession of the village ensued, but this was
only a Southern outpost, and it was not strong enough to withstand the
rush of the Ohio men and Winchester's regiment. Fighting at every step
they retreated through the village and into the forest beyond, leaving
one of their cannon in the hands of the Union troops.

"An omen of victory," exclaimed Dick, when he saw the captured cannon.

"Careful, Dick! Careful!" said Warner. "Remember that you're not strong
on omens. You're always seeing sure signs of success just before we go
into a big battle."

"If Dick sees visions, and they're visions of the right kind, then he's
right," said Pennington. "I'd a good deal rather go into battle with
Dick by my side singing a song of victory, than croaking of defeat."

"T