company to which he
was attached was more like mounted infantry than cavalry, for with the
exception of the commissioned officers, there was scarcely one among the
men who was provided with a saber. The most of Price's men were armed
with shotguns and hunting rifles, and in some respects were superior to
cavalry. They could move rapidly, fight as infantry, and if worsted in
the engagement, jump on their horses and make a quick retreat. Their
uniform was cadet gray with light blue slashings, and so nearly like the
one that had been worn by the Barrington students, that all Dick Graham
had to do to pass muster on dress parade was to add a sergeant's
_chevrons_ to the old uniform he had worn at school. Rodney Gray was an
"odd sheep in the flock," but Dick had two suits of clothes, one of
which his friend Rodney always wore when he was on duty, for Captain
Jones was somewhat particular, and wanted his men to appear well on post
and when they were ordered out for drill. The mail-carrier who took
Rodney's first letter to his father from the camp, took also an order
for a full outfit which was addressed to a merchant tailor in Little
Rock. Being shut off from St. Louis by Lyon's advancing troops, all the
mail, with the exception of some secret correspondence which was kept up
during the whole of the war, was sent by courier to Little Rock and New
Madrid, and from these places forwarded to its destination in the
South.

Rodney Gray arrived at Price's camp during the latter part of June; and
almost immediately became aware that preparations were being made for an
event of some importance. There was much scouting going on, although he
and Dick took no part in it, much to their regret, and now and then
there was a skirmish reported. The junction of Price's forces with those
of Jackson and Rains, which Siegel hoped to prevent by a rapid march
upon Neosho, took place at Carthage, as we have said; but in spite of
this Siegel resolved to attack. He left Neosho on the 4th of July, and
on the 6th, fought the battle of Carthage against a greatly superior
force. Rodney's regiment was in the thickest of it. It tried to outflank
Siegel in order to seize his wagon train, but could not stand against
the terrible cross-fire of the Union artillery, which mowed them down
like blades of grass. The first man killed in Rodney's company was the
one who had given him that copy of the _Richmond Whig_. While charging
at Rodney's side he was struck in