"Well, I reckon you are about right,--as you always are, Deck. If
we--Hullo, what's the meaning of that?"

Life drew rein suddenly, and pointed toward the rocky elevation to one
side of the trail. Deck looked in the direction, but could make out
nothing unusual.

"What are you pointing at, Life?"

"It's gone now. It was--There it is again!"

Deck now saw that which had attracted his companion's attention. A light
had appeared, evidently a pine torch. It was swung around in a circle
several times, then moved up and down,--and then it vanished as before.

"It's a signal, Life!"

"They moved it that way before," answered the captain of the seventh
company. "What can it mean?"

"It means that one detachment of the Confederates is signalling to
another," ejaculated Deck. "Come ahead; I am going to learn the
particulars of this movement if I can."




CHAPTER XXIII

AN IMPORTANT CAPTURE ON THE MOUNTAINS


Major Deck Lyon felt certain that they had not only made a discovery of
importance, but that this discovery, if followed up, would lead to
something of still more value to know.

He felt, however, that not a moment was to be lost. Already the shades
of night had fallen across Sand Mountain and Lookout Mountain, casting
deep patches of gloom among the several valleys. In the darkness, the
trail would become dangerous, if it was not already so.

The five sharpshooters were halted, and the situation was explained to
them. Then two were sent on the back trail, to cover their rear, two
were sent up the creek, one on either side, and the remaining man
accompanied Deck and Life to the base of the rocky hill from which the
signal had been flashed.

"You will take care of our horses, Clefton," said the major, to the
last sharpshooter. "If an enemy appears, keep out of the way if you can.
I want to learn just what is going on before an alarm is given."

In a minute more, the major and the captain were crawling over the rocks
and through the brush, directly for the place whence the signal-light
had appeared. No answering signal had been discovered, and Deck
concluded that the second signal station was out of the range of the
valley bottom.

The distance from the trail to the spot from which the light had flashed
was calculated by Life Knox to be not over five hundred yards, that is,
about a quarter of a mile, and the tall Kentuckian was not the man to
make a mistake in calculating such a distance. But the way was rugged,
and often a gully or a wall of rock brought the pair to a halt. Yet the
gullies were not so wide but that each could be covered by a stiff jump,
and they helped one another up the steep places. The Kentuckian advanced
with hardly any noise, and Deck followed his example, although not so
familiar with woodcraft.

Three-quarters of the distance to the top of the rocky hill had been
covered when each clutched the other by the arm. Both had made a
discovery, whether of importance or not, they could not just then tell.
They had found three horses, tethered in a spot through which ran a
trail running east and west, diagonally to the course they were
pursuing.

"Hist, somebody is coming," whispered Deck, as Life started to speak;
and both shrunk back in the shadow of a clump of bushes.

They could hear the low murmur of three voices, and presently they
distinguished three Confederates, attired in the uniform of the signal
corps. Each man carried a pair of field-glasses and some sort of an
apparatus strapped to his back.

"They are the fellows we are after, sure enough," whispered Life. "Three
to two. What shall we do?"

"Wait; and see to your pistol," answered the major, in an equally low
voice.

"Captain, what did you make that last signal out to mean?" asked one of
the Confederates.

"It meant that the Yankees have crossed Sand Mountain and are
assembling along Lookout."

"But what of the cavalry?"

"They are on the extreme right of their troops."

"Then they must be in this neighborhood. It's a good thing for General
Wheeler that we have learned this. I suppose they'll come close to
Alpine."

"More than likely they'll strike right through to Summerville."

"Then they mean to turn our left if they can," put in the third
signalman, who had not spoken heretofore. "What do you suppose General
Bragg will do?"

"He'll come out of Chattanooga and fight 'em, that's what he'll do,
Simpler. To my notion it was foolish not to offer them a fight right on
the bank of the Tennessee."

Speaking in this strain, the three signalmen turned in at the spot where
they had left their horses, and began to untie the animals. While they
were doing this, Life leaned over to Deck.

"Well?" he asked in a whisper.

"Do you think we can manage them, Life?"

"Why not? We have the drop of them, if we keep behind the trees."

"I should like to make them prisoners."

"Let us try it; I don't think we'll come off second best," answered the
matter-of-fact captain of the seventh company.

Deck raised his pistol and Life did the same. "I'll cover the fellow
beside the white horse," he explained.

"Correct; I'll cover both of the others," was Life's reply, as he
produced another weapon.

The next moment Deck called upon the three signalmen to surrender. His
command started the three very much, and they stopped their talk and
gazed around them in bewilderment.

"What's that?" questioned the captain, nervously.

"I call on you to surrender. Down with your arms or you are dead men."

"Who are you?"

"A major in the Union army, in command of a detachment of
sharpshooters," answered Deck, telling the exact truth.

"Stand ready to fire, boys," he continued, as if addressing a full
company behind him.

"We surrender," said the leader of the signalmen, promptly.

"Throw down your arms."

One after another the weapons of the Confederates were cast away.

"Keep them well covered, boys," said Deck, and going forward he gathered
the pistols up, also the captain's sword.

"Now march down the hillside in that direction," went on the major; "and
no treachery, or you'll be dead men inside of ten seconds." He raised
his voice. "Forward, boys! Captain Knox, take command!"

"All right, Major," answered Knox, gruffly. He turned around. "Forward,
boys, and keep them covered," and then as the Confederates moved off, he
also moved, making as much noise as a dozen men. The ruse was completely
successful, even more so than it had been at the time the cannon on the
raft was captured.

At the foot of the hill Clefton, the sharpshooter, was called up, and
sent to notify the others. Soon the detachment of seven was assembled,
and then all surrounded the prisoners.

"You don't mean to say this is all the men you have?" demanded the
leader of the signalmen.

"I haven't any others very near," said Deck.

"Well, that's the time I was fooled for fair. I thought you had a full
company stuck up there among the trees."

"Are you prepared to go along peaceably?" asked Deck, to change the
subject.

"Being unarmed, how can we help ourselves?"

"I see you have a large stock of common sense, even if you were
captured," said Deck, with a laugh. "All right, you shall ride, but your
animals must be chained to our own, or they might run away with you in
the darkness."

"Which means that we might try to run away on them."

"I didn't put it quite so pointedly, Captain."

"But you meant it, nevertheless. Well, it's all right,--'fortune of
war,' so to speak, and I shan't complain. Who are you?"

"Major Deck Lyon, of the Riverlawn Cavalry of Kentucky."

"And I am Captain Vallingham, of the South Carolina volunteers,--now on
detached duty."

"You seem to have been running a sort of a signal station up there,
Captain Vallingham."

"Oh, we have been amusing ourselves."

"Do you think the persons who were signalled to were likewise amused?"

"How do you know we were signalling to anybody?"

"I take it for granted you didn't wave those pine knots to the stars.
You are too intelligent a man to believe in negro voodooism."

"Perhaps I am not as intelligent as you imagine, Major. Remember, I
surrendered when I should have fought. We were three to two, and it
would have been a pretty fair contest."

"But we had the drop on you."

"True, but it was pretty dark."

"Yes, and it is too dark now to suit me, Captain. Life, let us light up
a bit."

"Here is an opening in the brush, Major," answered the Kentuckian, who
imagined he understood what the young commander had in mind.

Evidently the leader of the signalmen also understood, or thought he
did, for as the group turned into the clearing Life had mentioned, he
was observed by the watchful major to throw a small note-book over the
bushes.

"Halt!" cried Deck. "Brady, let me have that lantern you brought along."

The sharpshooter addressed complied, the lantern was lit, and the major
began a hunt. The note-book lay wide open on some short brush, and was
easily discovered, along with two letters beside it. With the articles
in his hand, Deck returned to the Confederate signalmen.

"Captain Vallingham, I am sorry to see you throw away your property in
this fashion," he remarked.

"You're altogether too sharp!" growled the signalman, and now his
pleasant manner deserted him.

"In order to prevent you from throwing away anything more of value, I'll
have you searched. Clefton, go through the man from hat to boots, and
don't let anything escape you."

"Are you going to rob me?"

"Yes,--of information, if any more is to be had."

"I haven't anything beside that note-book and the two letters. The
letters are from my mother,--private correspondence."

"You give me your word of honor as a gentleman to that?"

"I do."

"Then there you are, Captain. I have no desire to pry into your personal
affairs. I am working solely in the interests of the United States of
America."

A flush came over the Confederate's face, and he crammed the letters
into a pocket Clefton had just turned inside out. "Much obliged; I am
glad to learn a Yankee can still be a gentleman in some respects."

"In all respects, Captain Vallingham. Clefton, anything else of value to
our general?"

"Haven't pulled off his boots yet, Major."

"Do you think I carry the secrets of the Confederate army in my
foot-wear?" demanded the captain.

"I am not thinking; I am trying to find out," answered Deck, calmly.

"I'm not used to going barefooted."

"We won't keep you barefooted. Now, Clefton--Ah, what's that?"

For from the top of Captain Vallingham's stocking an edge of paper had
protruded. The paper was pinned fast, but easily released, and Deck
unfolded it, and held it so that the light of the lantern might fall
upon it.

"A map of this vicinity, and of the approaches to Chattanooga," he said.
"Very good. Life, here is where that other signal corps was stationed,
in the direction of Alpine. Is that all, Clefton?"

"Seems to be, Major Lyon."

"Now examine the other prisoners."

The order was carried out with despatch and care, and one other map was
brought to light, along with an order from a member of General Wheeler's
staff, directing the movements of the signalmen. The order was dated at
Lafayette, a town about midway between where the detachment was now
stationed and Chattanooga.

Deck gave the note-book a scanty inspection and found it contained the
signal code for that campaign, and also a diary of the work performed.
There was also a note speaking of the forces under General Wharton,
commanding one division of Wheeler's cavalry. This showed that the
Confederate cavalry were watching for General Mitchell's troops to the
north of Lafayette.

Shoving the note-book and maps into his pocket, Deck ordered his men on
the return, the prisoners to ride behind himself and Life, with the five
sharpshooters in the rear. He felt that he had gained sufficient
information to warrant his return. To use an old phrase, "the cat was
out of the bag," and it would not be long before General Bragg would
bring out his troops from Chattanooga and vicinity to do the Army of the
Cumberland battle.




CHAPTER XXIV

OPERATIONS IN McLEMORE'S COVE


Captain Vallingham was a graduate of West Point who had gone into the
volunteer service of the South immediately after Fort Sumter was fired
upon. He had attached himself to the cavalry at first, but had soon been
transferred, by his own wish, to the signal corps.

The corps as operated in the army of Tennessee under General Braxton
Bragg was a poor one, yet it did some excellent work in those districts
where travelling from one hilltop to another was slow work, but where
the topography was just right for sending messages from point to point
by means of various signalling apparatuses.

The captain was a brave fellow, and four years at our national military
academy had "taught him a thing or two," as old army officers are wont
to express it. He was a prisoner of the enemy, but he did not intend to
remain so very long, if he could help it. To think that he had been
captured by a Union officer much younger than himself, supported by only
one or two followers, filled him with chagrin, and he resolved to square
matters with Deck at the first opportunity.

Like the young major of the first battalion, the Confederate captain
owned a horse that he had trained from ponyhood; but, unlike Deck, he
still possessed the steed and was now riding him. In addition to this,
the Confederate officer knew every foot of the ground the whole party
were now traversing. He resolved to make use of his knowledge and of the
abilities of his horse at the first opportunity.

The chance was not long in coming. At one point in the trail along the
creek, the rocks came to within ten feet of the water, so that the safe
part of the road was only wide enough for one rider to pass along at a
time. Consequently, the party had to move ahead in single file, Captain
Knox leading, Deck following, and Captain Vallingham coming next, with
the remaining Confederates behind him, the sharpshooters bringing up in
the rear.

The rocks were from six to ten feet in height, and were covered in spots
with sparse growths of brush. Back of them, at a distance of a hundred
feet or more, was a hill, leading up into a growth of cedars.

As the narrowest part of the trail was gained, Captain Vallingham
dropped behind, until fifteen or twenty feet separated him and Deck.
Then, of a sudden, he drew his horse around and spoke to the animal. The
intelligent equine understood, and with one marvellous leap, cleared the
edge of the rocks and stood on the flat surface above. Without a halt,
Captain Vallingham urged him forward, and away he went at a breakneck
speed for the cedars.

The two Confederates riding back of their leaders saw the movement the
instant it was made, but they said nothing. Deck heard the noise as the
horse landed on the rocks and turned as quickly as he could. From where
he sat nothing could be seen but the top of the escaping man's head, and
he fired at this, putting a hole through Captain Vallingham's hat and
giving the alarm.

[Illustration: CAPTAIN VALLINGHAM ATTEMPTING TO ESCAPE.

_Page 308._]

"Escaping, is he!" cried Life, and just then the rifle of the first of
the sharpshooters rang out, and another ballet increased the ventilation
in the daring man's head-covering. The second and the third
sharpshooters tried to urge their horses up the rocks, but this could
not be done, and they made the leaps alone, directly from their saddles.

"Stay back and watch these two!" cried Deck, to Life and the two
remaining sharpshooters, and leaped up the rocks. As he landed, he heard
a splash in the water, and glancing back saw that one of the other
prisoners had tried to escape by swimming the creek. The movement was a
foolish one, for the moment he reappeared, in midstream, both of the
sharpshooters still on the trail fired at him, killing him instantly.

By the time Deck had reached the top of the rocks, Vallingham had
covered half of the distance to the cedars. He was urging his horse
along among the tallest brush the plain of rocks afforded, and it was
difficult to get another shot at him. Deck fired once, and so did one of
the sharpshooters behind him, but the bullets whistled harmlessly among
the cedars beyond.

"He's got the bulge on us, Major, bein' mounted!" panted Clefton, who
now caught up to Deck. "How he got his hoss to take that jump is a
mystery to me."

"If I had had Ceph I could have jumped after him," answered Deck, and a
pang of regret shot through his heart, as he realized what a great help
noble Ceph had been to him. "Clefton, you run to the right and I will
run to the left. Sanford, you keep on straight ahead. Unless he knows
those woods thoroughly, he'll be bothered to find a path, and will have
to turn in one direction or another."

By the time Major Lyon had ceased speaking, Vallingham had gained the
first of the cedars. He struck the woods at a spot where the ground was
very uneven, and turned to the left,--the direction Deck had assigned to
himself.

Ordinarily it is impossible for a man on foot to catch up with a running
horse, although the man may be able to overtake the horse in the course
of two or three days' running, if the man is a trained runner. But
Captain Vallingham had to move along with a certain amount of caution,
for if his steed went down into a hole and broke a leg, the game would
be up. Being closer to the ground, Deck could see fairly well, and he
came along without slacking his speed.

The major was within a hundred feet of the Confederate, and was on the
point of calling upon him to halt, when Vallingham slipped behind the
first growth of cedars and out of sight.

"This way, boys!" called Deck, and made for the spot, with Clefton and
Sanford not over two hundred feet away. There was a small brook to
cross, and he came into the woods over some uncovered roots of trees and
amid a mass of half-rotted leaves and pine needles and cones.

"Captain Vallingham, you might as well give up!" he called out. "You
cannot escape."

"Follow me at your peril!" came back in a determined voice. "I am not
unarmed, as you suppose."

This reply startled Deck, but in a moment he made up his mind that the
Confederate was bluffing, and he did not slacken his speed. Clefton
called to him, and he ordered both sharpshooters to come into the woods
with him.

There was a road through the cedars, starting from a point to the north
of where Vallingham had entered. Toward this road the Confederate now
pressed, with Deck at his heels, trying to get a shot, but balked by the
trees and the darkness. More than once, the major went down, and he
wondered how the escaping prisoner could keep in the saddle.

As a matter of fact, Vallingham had dismounted, and was leading his
steed for the road. He was armed, as he had intimated, but his weapon
was nothing more formidable than a stout stick just picked up. He
reached the road at last, and leaped into the saddle once more.

Deck came into the opening before Vallingham had advanced more than ten
yards. In the gloom he saw the forms of horse and rider, and fired twice
in quick succession, at the same time calling upon Clefton and Sanford
that the prisoner was again in sight.

The second leaden messenger from the major's weapon struck the
Confederate's horse in the flank, and he leaped to one side from the
pain, unseating Vallingham, and sending the captain to the ground. The
shock was a heavy one, and ere the captain could recover, Deck was upon
him.

"Do you surrender, or shall I fire on you?" demanded the young Union
officer.

"I--I surrender," groaned Vallingham. "Oh! I am afraid I have broken a
rib."

"If you have, I am sorry for you, but you brought it on yourself,"
answered Deck, coolly. "Sit still until the others come up."

Clefton and Sanford were in sight, and a call brought them to Deck's
side. By this time Captain Vallingham had grown very pale; and suddenly
he fainted. Water was brought, and he revived, but he said his right
side hurt him a good deal where it had struck against a sharp stone.

The horse that had been wounded walked lamely, but was still in fair
condition, and the Confederate, being unable to walk, was allowed to
ride, Sanford leading the steed. The whole party turned back to the
trail, where they found Life and his men and the third prisoner awaiting
them.

"And so Colver is gone," said Captain Vallingham, when told of the
shooting of the man who had leaped into the creek. "Poor fellow; I am
afraid I am responsible for his rashness."

"It was a fool move all round, Cap'n," growled the third prisoner, and
the captain did not gainsay it.

Once more the march for the Union encampment was resumed, and this time
a close watch was kept on the prisoners, something which was now
scarcely necessary, as Captain Vallingham was in no condition to attempt
another escape, and the other prisoner being far too scared to dream of
such a thing.

It was dawn of the following day when Major Lyon finally reached
headquarters, having placed the prisoners in Life's charge, to be turned
over to the proper authorities in the camp.

He found the general commander just finishing his scant toilet, after
taking a much-needed sleep of a few hours.

"Be brief, Major Lyon, for I have little time to spare," he said, as he
motioned Deck to a chair.

Deck had prepared his report in his mind before announcing himself, and
was as terse as any one could wish. The general listened attentively,
and studied the maps and the note-book with interest.

"This is another feather in your cap, Major Lyon," he said, at the
conclusion of the interview. "I shall make mention of it."

"The men under me are as much entitled to credit as myself," answered
the young major, wishing to be entirely fair. Yet it must be confessed
that his bosom swelled with pride at his commander's words.

"Possibly they are;--they shall be remembered also," was the rejoinder,
and then the major was dismissed, to make place for several others who
had come in to report.

"You ought to be an out-and-out scout, Deck!" cried Artie, when the two
got together later in the day. "Life has been telling me about what was
done. I only wish I had been along." And later on Sandy Lyon said the
same thing.

Information had been obtained, some days back, that the Union commander,
Burnside, had occupied Knoxville, and that his opponent, S. B. Buckner,
had retreated to Loudon. It was now stated that fifteen thousand
Confederate forces were on their way to join Bragg. The question was,
would the two forces concentrate in Chattanooga, or at some place
outside, to do battle with the army of the North?

As has been said, the Army of the Cumberland lay along the western base
of the mountains. On the 7th of September, Negley's division commenced
the ascent of the steep sides, and at four o'clock in the afternoon
gained the summit. A reconnaissance was made by Colonel Wood, and it was
found that the enemy had heavy guns in the vicinity, covering the
eastern side of the mountain. The next day General Negley seized
Cooper's and Stevens' Gaps, finding the latter heavily barricaded.

Other troops moved in various directions. The Riverlawns, with the
cavalry on the extreme right, were ordered to sweep through Broomtown
Valley and seize the railroad in the vicinity of Dalton, thus cutting
off the enemy's line of communication in this district.

The Riverlawns moved forward full of enthusiasm, and satisfied that at
last some sort of a battle was at hand. But, alas! those hopes were
doomed to disappointment. Bragg was leaving Chattanooga as fast as he
could, and by the 9th of the month, everybody in the Army of the
Cumberland knew it. Rosecrans had gained "The Gateway to Georgia," by
strategy alone.

As the enemy had retired, there was but one thing left to do,--go after
him and compel him to either fight or surrender, and this Rosecrans did
without a moment's delay.

As Chattanooga was abandoned, General Crittenden took possession without
serious opposition. The remainder of his troops were called up from the
river, and on the same day that the news of the evacuation was spread
around, he started with his corps for Ringgold, arriving at Rossville
that evening. On the same day, Negley marched to McLemore's Cove, a
split formed between Lookout Mountain and Pigeon Mountain, where he met
the enemy's outposts and drove them back for several miles. At the same
time Heg's brigade marched into Broomtown Valley, to support the
cavalry, should they be needed.

The pursuit was growing warm, and the next day the advance of the Union
troops was checked in several places and severe skirmishes resulted.
General Bragg had left Chattanooga in haste, but had no idea of
retreating without a battle. He reckoned that the Union forces were
larger in numbers than his own, and he devised a plan for meeting them
not as a whole but by columns.

The Confederate's first combination was directed against the corps under
General Thomas. If he could reach and crush Thomas's force before the
others could come up, he felt the remainder of the campaign would be
comparatively plain sailing. The division under Negley at McLemore's
Cove was not allowed to rest, for Bragg ordered a movement against it in
great force.

Had Bragg's orders been carried out, there is no doubt but that Negley's
division would have been overwhelmed by mere force of numbers if nothing
else. But fortunately for Thomas's corps there was a delay. Hill sent
word that the gaps were filled with felled timbers and could not be
cleared in twenty-four hours. Bragg then ordered Buckner forward to
coöperate with Hindman, but there was another fatal halt. To hasten this
battle Bragg then moved his headquarters to Lafayette, and ordered more
soldiers to this united attack, which was to fall on Negley, who was
isolated from the balance of the Fourteenth Army Corps by mountains hard
to travel.

All day long the Confederate commander listened for Hindman's proposed
attack, but it did not come, for Hindman thought the force before him
too strong and awaited reГ«nforcements under Hill. In the meantime,
General Baird had come to Negley's support. There was some sharp
fighting, but Negley's division was saved and withdrew to the base of
Lookout Mountain, where it was joined by Reynold's and Brennan's
divisions; and then the Union centre was once more secure.




CHAPTER XXV

"HOLD THE HILL FOR TEN MINUTES, AT ANY COST!"


The first great movement of the Confederate commander having failed of
success, he now tried another, which was to hurl his united forces upon
Crittenden, who was approaching him from the direction of Chattanooga.
He knew Crittenden's troops were divided by woods and mountains, and
wrote to one of his generals, Polk: "This presents a fine opportunity of
striking Crittenden in detail, and I hope you will avail yourself of it
to-morrow. This division crushed, and the others are yours." He referred
to the first division sent in the direction of Ringgold, not knowing
that other troops had been sent after it. Wheeler's cavalry--or a large
portion of it--was sent to cover Polk's right. But again there was a
delay, Polk stating the enemy was too strong for him. Bragg, much put
out, took Buckner's command and went to the front, only to learn a few
hours later that Crittenden had reunited his forces and taken a stand
on the other side of Chickamauga Creek.

So far there had been many movements and many forced marches, but no
battle had resulted. There were still many changes, but in a work of
this sort, written primarily to show the movements of the Riverlawn
Cavalry, the details of these movements can hardly find a place. A
battle seemed "in the air," and as day after day went by, both sides
grew more anxious to fight, and each waited only for some slight
advantage over the other.

General Rosecrans now made preparations to hold all the roads leading to
Chattanooga east of the mountains. Van Cleve went to Crawfish Springs,
Palmer to Gowan's Ford, McCook with several divisions took a mountain
road to Stevens' Gap, to join Thomas, Sheridan marched down Lookout
Valley to Johnson's Creek, and the cavalry went to Dougherty's Gap and
McLemore's Cove. Thus were the three columns, right, centre, and left,
once more within supporting distance of each other, "a matter of life
and death," as General Rosecrans states in a report on the subject.

General Bragg now felt that he must do something. Two splendid chances
for striking the Union forces had been allowed to slip by through the
failure of his officers to carry out his instructions on time; he felt
there must be no further failure. He would concentrate his whole army
into one grand effort to crush General Rosecrans and all under him. His
efforts were spirited and daring, and worthy of a far better cause than
that of trying to split our glorious Union into fragments.

The first movement was to concentrate his army along the east bank of
Chickamauga Creek, and here he awaited reГ«nforcements under Longstreet
from Virginia, in the meantime sending out orders as to how each
division of his command should take part when the general movement
began. All was in readiness by the 17th of September, and the order was
given to move across the stream at six o'clock the next morning; a
portion of his command to go across at Alexandria Bridge, another at
Reed's Bridge, a third at Ledford's Ford, and others to try what could
be done at Lee and Gordon's Mill, or Dalton's Ford. The plan looked to
the destruction of the left wing of our army and the retaking of the
roads leading to Chattanooga. It brought on the battle of Chickamauga,
which lasted for two days, Saturday and Sunday, September 19th and
20th,--a nerve-trying contest neither the wearers of the blue nor the
wearers of the gray were ever liable to forget.

While the Army of the Cumberland was concentrating on one side of the
Chickamauga and the Army of Tennessee on the other, with several outside
forces to aid, if possible, on one side or the other, the cavalry was
employed along the river banks to report all movements of the
enemy,--Minty being on the Union side and Forrest on the Confederate
side. To the Union forces were added the Riverlawns, although they
operated largely as an independent body.

The cavalry were stationed at both Reed's and the Alexandria Bridges,
and beyond them, and in the afternoon of the day before the great
battle, Colonel Lyon received hurried orders to proceed across Reed's
Bridge in the direction of Pea Vine Creek, three miles eastward, to
support some of Minty's cavalry who had encountered the Confederate
forces under General Johnson. The colonel lost no time in obeying this
command, and in less than three minutes after it was delivered the
Riverlawns were galloping along the uneven pike, every company with full
ranks and every man ready to do his duty.

Johnson had left Ringgold early in the morning, his instructions being
to cross the Chickamauga at Reed's Bridge, and then to sweep onward
toward Lee and Gordon's Mill. The way was hard, the roads covered with
dust, and by two o'clock it was reported to him that the Union cavalry
under Minty was in front, at Pea Vine Creek, ready to dispute his
passage to the Chickamauga. His column consisted of four divisions of
infantry, a portion of Forrest's cavalry, several batteries and eight
pieces of reserve artillery.

"If Minty's cavalry is in front, so much the worse for Minty," were the
Confederate's words. "Forward, and let every man do his best for the
gallant stars and bars!"

The wearers of the gray responded with that battle-cry which has since
become so well known; and the first division was hurled at Minty just as
he appeared at a turn in the road not far from the little creek.

The shock was heavy but the cavalry stood up to it, and a rapid fire on
both sides resulted. Seeing there were more Union cavalrymen in reserve,
Johnson sent additional troops to the front, and Minty was gradually
forced backward. It was then that the Riverlawns were called into
action.

"You are wanted, Colonel Lyon!" cried the dashing Union commander, who
sat astride of a steed covered with foam. "They are on us in
overwhelming numbers, yet my orders are to hold this road and the
bridge."

"I will help you all I can, Colonel," answered Colonel Lyon. "I'll go
wherever you think is best."

"Then take that road to our right. I have sent some of my own troops to
the left. Johnson may have so many men with him that he will try to cut
off my rear."

"I will follow your directions, Colonel," said the commander of the
Riverlawns; and, turning in the saddle, he issued the necessary orders;
and away went the twelve companies across a small open field a short
distance above Pea Vine Creek.

Minty had guessed correctly; Johnson was calculating to surround him,
and a division of his troops was already hurrying to the right of the
Union cavalry. There was a slight rise of ground, and it was the
intention of the Confederate commander to have his left wing sneak
around this. Once in the rear of Minty, the Union cavalry would be
caught in a trap and either wiped out or compelled to surrender.

The Riverlawns were sweeping directly up the hill at full speed, with
Deck in advance of the first battalion. His father was beside him, and
both reached the top together, field-glasses in hand.

"There they are!" cried Deck, pointing with his hand. "We are none too
soon!"

"You are right, my son," answered the colonel; and he motioned
Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon to his side.

A plan of action was soon established; and by the time the Confederate
force was within firing distance, the Riverlawns were drawn up along the
brow of the hill in battalion ranks, each battalion resting within two
hundred feet of that next to it.

"First company take aim--fire!" came the command; and the first blazed
away, followed by the fifth, and the ninth,--the leaders of the second
and third battalions. The smoke had not yet cleared away when the
second, sixth, and tenth companies came to the front and discharged
their carbines, and the companies behind these soon after followed suit.

The first volley did not halt the Confederates, but the second did,
while the third and fourth rounds caused the leading companies to fall
back, a score of men having been killed and wounded. But their leader
urged them on, and they left the road and charged straight up the little
hill.

Before the charge was made, Colonel Lyon saw that to combat with such a
force with a single regiment of cavalry would be folly. Accordingly he
despatched his orderly post-haste to Colonel Minty, with the following
message:--

"Force operating on the right too heavy for me. Think it is half a
division, or more. Will hold the top of the hill as long as I can."

The messenger had scarcely gone when the fight on the hillside began.
The Confederates crowded forward in large numbers, and it looked as if
the Riverlawns would be completely engulfed. But Colonel Lyon kept the
whole three battalions up to the firing line, with the exception of the
twelfth company, which was sent to the rear, to watch that they should
not be cut off from concentration with Minty.

Two charges had been made, when the orderly came back.

"Hold the hill for ten minutes, at any cost!" was the message sent back.
Minty was retreating, there being nothing else to do, and if the hill
was lost, the Confederates would surround him before Alexandria Bridge
could be gained.

"I will hold the hill," said Colonel Lyon, and waving his sabre, he came
up directly to the front. "Men, we are asked to hold this hill for ten
minutes. It means life or death to the cavalry on the Pea Vine Creek
road. Will you help me to hold it?"

"We will!" came in a stirring cry. "We will!"

"I knew you would do it! This is our stand, and here we must remain! Do
not budge an inch!"

"We'll stand like rocks!" shouted a heavy-set Kentuckian. "Hurrah for
Colonel Lyon!"

There was a cheer, and a volley from the companies at the front. The
smoke was now becoming thick, and in the midst of this the enemy swarmed
up the hillside.

"First battalion--charge!" came the order, and away went the four
companies, with Deck in the lead, to break down a column which was
advancing on the left, the most vulnerable point on the rise of ground.
There was a crash of musketry and a cracking of pistols, and then the
clash of sabres, striking fire, as the two forces closed in.

The young major found himself in a trying position. The enemy counted
three times more men than were in his own ranks, consisting of a
battalion and a half of cavalry and an equal number of infantry. On the
moment, he planned to charge the cavalry first and draw them away from
the foot-soldiers. The plan succeeded, and then the contest became a
little more equal.

Colonel Lyon watched the scene with bated breath, for Deck was far too
daring, to his mind; but the moment the enemy's cavalry and infantry
separated, he smiled to himself. Calling Major Belthorpe, he ordered him
forward to engage the separated infantry, and in a minute more two
battles were on instead of one on the hillside.

In the meantime Minty was falling back, slowly, but surely, doing all
the damage possible as he retreated. It had not been presumed by General
Rosecrans that Minty could overcome the forces under Johnson, but the
Union commander wished to subject Bragg to delays in concentrating his
troops, knowing that such delays usually worked to the Confederate's
ultimate defeat.

Fearing that Minty could not hold the force against him back long
enough, the general in command sent Wilder after him, to operate as the
Riverlawns were operating. They came up in the midst of the contest, and
aided materially in the retreat; but of their coming Colonel Lyon knew
nothing.

Five minutes had gone by, and the Riverlawns were being pressed back.
One company had been disorganized,--the fifth, Captain Gadbury being
wounded, and the first lieutenant, Grand, being shot dead. Under these
conditions, Second Lieutenant Sandy Lyon assumed command. The fifth
company was the first of the second battalion, and Sandy now found
himself charging the Confederate infantry just mentioned. He went in
with vigor, and no one acted with greater heroism that day than did this
young Kentuckian who had once marched under the stars and bars, but who
had recognized the error of his ways, and was now fighting under the
glorious stars and stripes.

"He's all there--Sandy is!" murmured old Titus Lyon, and there was
something like a tear in his eye. "God bless him and preserve him for
his mother's sake and for mine!" It did the old man's heart good to see
his boy at the head of that dashing company of cavalrymen.

Exasperated at the stubborn resistance on the hill, Johnson sent forward
another regiment of infantry to support the infantry and cavalry already
in the field. What to do was now a question to Colonel Lyon. He looked
at his watch. The Riverlawns had held the hill for exactly sixteen
minutes. Should he fall back? If he remained he might be annihilated; if
he fell back Minty might be lost.

A shout from the rear reached his ear. A staff-officer was riding
toward him at breakneck speed. "Fall back--the retreat has been
sufficiently covered!" came the order, and much relieved, Colonel Lyon
ordered his battalions to retreat to the creek road, where they came up
side by side with the front of the regular cavalry column. Minty had met
Johnson at noon. It was now after three o'clock, and the Confederate
advance had been delayed three hours. It could not be delayed longer,
however, and Minty, Wilder, and the Riverlawns continued to fall back.
Johnson reached Reed's Bridge shortly after three o'clock, and marched
for Jay's Mill, arriving there an hour later. The Riverlawns went into
camp not far from the Chickamauga, and awaited further orders.




CHAPTER XXVI

THE BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA


"Phew, but that was a hot time while it lasted!" observed Captain Artie
Lyon, when the regiment was once more in a safe position and at ease.
"Those fellows can fight if they set out for it."

"We were very fortunate, having lost no officers and but four men,"
answered Deck, to whom he was speaking. "The second battalion fared a
good deal worse with that infantry. Captain Gadbury is so severely
wounded he has been sent to the rear, and Lieutenant Grand is dead."

"Then Sandy will become captain of that company!" cried Artie. "Well, he
deserves such a position, to my way of thinking."

"I am sorry for Captain Gadbury," resumed Deck, and he wondered what
Margie Belthorpe would say when she heard that the gallant captain was
wounded. As will be remembered, the relationship between Margie
Belthorpe and Captain Gadbury was even more advanced than was the
tender feeling between Deck and Kate Belthorpe.

Shortly after the conversation, Deck received permission to go to the
rear and visit the injured captain. He found Gadbury suffering from a
wound in the hip. It was not a dangerous shot, but one which would lay
the dashing fellow up for some time. Deck saw to it that the captain was
given every attention, and wrote to Margie telling her of what had
happened. Later on, Captain Gadbury was removed to Lyndhall, where the
Belthorpe sisters did all in their power to render his convalescent
state pleasant in the extreme.

Matters had to move quickly, and as soon as the thing could be arranged,
Sandy Lyon was made acting captain of the fifth company, with rank of
first lieutenant. He assumed control with quiet dignity, and soon made
himself fully as popular as Gadbury had been.

It was felt that General Bragg had one advantage--he could see without
being seen. His scouts were on the top of Pigeon Mountain, and they
watched every movement of the Union troops, while the Confederates lay
concealed behind the thick growth of timber along the Chickamauga. The
most Rosecrans could do was to keep his cavalry in motion, reporting
every movement the instant it was developed in front of the Army of the
Cumberland.

Bragg had concentrated his forces, and now he planned to strike one
tremendous blow at a flank of the Union forces, and gain Rosecrans' rear
and his line of communication with his depot of supplies. For this
purpose the Confederate leader divided his forces into two corps, one
under Polk and the other under Longstreet, Hood commanding the latter
temporarily. The troops advanced in the darkness, and by midnight held
all the fords of the Chickamauga from Lee and Gordon's Mill well toward
Missionary Ridge.

But meanwhile, the Army of the Cumberland was not idle. Crittenden was
on the left, and Bragg was going to strike him. By a forced march along
the Dry Valley road during the night, Thomas with his entire corps, and
followed by a portion of McCook's corps, reached a position facing the
Reed and Alexandria bridges, now burned,--thus making the left wing of
our army virtually the right wing. And not only did Thomas do this, but
without waiting for Bragg to attack, or recover from his surprise, he
forced the battle by trying to capture a Confederate brigade said to
have become isolated from the balance of its command. This was the
opening of the great battle.

To go into the details of this contest would require volumes. Accounts
without number have been written, yet the tale is far from complete. Of
the fighting, let it be said briefly that it covered miles of territory
thickly overgrown with timber and crossed and recrossed by numerous
creeks and brooks, with here and there a rocky elevation or a stretch of
marsh land. In these thickets whole divisions became separated from
their comrades in arms, and often a single regiment on one side would be
found fighting a regiment on the other side, totally ignorant of what
was going on around them. It was almost impossible to move the artillery
around, and when pieces were captured they were generally found to be
"white elephants" upon the victor's hands.

As has been said, Thomas opened the fight. He had been told by McCook of
the isolated Confederate brigade, McCook stating that the bridge behind
the brigade had been burned, so the Confederates could not retreat. To
capture this brigade Thomas sent Brennan forward, with the result that
the Union forces soon encountered, not one brigade, but three, under
Forrest, which were protecting Bragg's right flank. The fighting opened
fiercely, and it was found necessary to send Baird to the support, along
with an extra Ohio regiment. But more of the Confederate forces
appeared, under Liddell, and two brigades of Union troops were hurled
back, with the loss of ten pieces of artillery.

This was the first round of the great contest, but ere the enemy had
been given time to take breath, the Union troops pressed forward once
more, and now, by a gallant charge of the Ninth Ohio one of the
batteries lost was regained.

Thomas was now reГ«nforced by a portion of Crittenden's command and some
troops of McCook's, while Cheatham reГ«nforced the Confederate front. The
latter came forward in two columns, and as they separated Bragg placed
Steward in the opening. The Confederates came on with terrific yells and
in turn sent back first Palmer and then Van Cleve in great disorder.
For a moment it looked as if the enemy would sweep all before them.

But Davis's division was now on the ground, and he advanced, supported
by Wood, and the Union forces came to a halt and were reformed, when
they drove almost all the Confederate forces back to their original
positions. Sheridan's troops also took part in this movement, and a
large number of the Confederates in Longstreet's corps were made
prisoners.

It was now past noon, and after several charges in his division
positions, Bragg began another assault, on the right of the Army of the
Cumberland. The assault was led by Hood, who fell furiously upon
Reynolds and Van Cleve. For a quarter of an hour it looked as if this
fierce onset would prove successful, and it must be admitted that the
Confederate valor was never greater than at this period.

"Down with the Yanks! We'll drive 'em into the Mississippi!" was the
cry. "Hurrah for the stars and bars!"

Reynolds and Van Cleve were struck and driven back, but still they
battled for every inch of the ground. In the meantime, portions of six
batteries were hurried into position, and then a raking fire of canister
was poured into the Confederate lines. But still on they came, until the
tumult drew close to the Widow Glenn's house, where Rosecrans had his
headquarters. The enemy occupied the Lafayette road, and our right was
shattered,--and the day looked black. But now up came Negley's division
on the double-quick, supported by Brennan, and, with a rousing
battle-cry, went at Hood and Johnson, "tooth and nail," fighting so
doggedly and taking such terrible punishment undauntedly, that the
Confederates had at last, about sunset, to give way before them, and
darkness ended the day's contest, with final victory still of the
uncertain to-morrow. Still later, there was another outbreak, short and
sharp, but with no positive results.

During this long day's fighting the cavalry operated principally along
the upper fords of the Chickamauga, although occasionally called
elsewhere, to save the artillery and to fill up breaks in the lines
which, owing to the roughness of the ground, the infantry could not
accomplish. The Riverlawns went into action at ten o'clock, half a mile
from the creek proper, along the bank of a stream locally known as
Duff's Claim. Here the growth of trees was heavy, but there was very
little underbrush.

It was thought that a portion of the enemy's cavalry was moving upon
Duff's Claim, with the intention of following the course of the stream
and getting behind the Union lines half a mile to the northeast. A few
isolated riders had been seen, and at first only the first battalion of
the Riverlawns advanced to investigate. The route was uneven, and the
four companies went ahead almost as separate commands, Deck riding with
the fourth company and beside his brother Artie.

"The battle is on for certain, now," remarked Captain Artie, as the
heavy roar of artillery reached their ears. "I think this day will bring
forth some decided results."

"Yes, the two armies can't play hide-and-seek much longer," answered the
young major. "Listen! That was artillery below this creek. I shouldn't
wonder if we catch it all along the line."

"Those troops will try to come across here,--I don't doubt it for a
moment. But we--What is it, Life?" he asked abruptly, as the tall
captain of the seventh company dashed up from the timber on the left.

"We've spotted several companies of the enemy over in this direction,"
Life jerked his thumb toward the point to which Deck was marching.
"Major Belthorpe thought I had best give you the tip."

"Are they moving?" asked Deck, much interested.

"No,--looks to me as if they were retreating--but it may be a blind."

"How is it you are here?"

"The colonel sent my company after your battalion, and Major Belthorpe
is just coming up."

"What of Major Truman's command?"

"Two of the companies are over yonder, and the others are in the rear. I
thought--Creation! Get to cover, quick!"

Life drew his own horse back, and the others followed suit. A dozen
riflemen had opened upon them, putting a bullet through the mane of
Deck's horse. The first volley was followed immediately by another, and
Artie Lyon suffered the ruin of one of his shoulder straps. Before the
Confederates could fire again, all were safely out of range.

"We've developed 'em," was Life's dry comment. "Reckon I had best get
back to my command."

"Ask Major Belthorpe to request the colonel to send you over here with
part of your men, if he can spare you. I am half of a mind those men
over there are sharpshooters."

"I will do it, Major," answered the tall Kentuckian, and dashed away.

By this time the first three companies of the first battalion had fallen
back to a safe position, and here all of the companies were joined, in
ten minutes, by Life Knox, with half of his own company and half of
Captain Ripley's best marksmen. A cautious advance was now ordered, and
the sharpshooters advanced on their hands and knees in a huge
semicircle. To learn the true condition of affairs, Deck went with Life,
the two taking a course which soon brought them to where there was a
little cove. Beyond this cove the creek split in two for the distance of
thirty rods, forming a long island in the centre, one hundred and fifty
feet wide at the middle, and heavily wooded.