THE ROCK OF CHICKAMAUGA

CONTENTS

I. AT BELLEVUE

II. FORREST

III. GRANT MOVES

IV. DICK'S MISSION

V. HUNTED

VI. A BOLD ATTACK

VII. THE LITTLE CAPITAL

VIII. CHAMPION HILL

IX. THE OPEN DOOR

X. THE GREAT ASSAULT

XI. THE TAKING OF VICKSBURG

XII. AN AFFAIR OF THE MOUNTAINS

XIII. THE RIVER OF DEATH

XIV. THE ROCK OF CHICKAMAUGA

XV. BESIDE THE BROOK




THE ROCK OF CHICKAMAUGA



CHAPTER I. AT BELLEVUE


"You have the keenest eyes in the troop. Can you see anything ahead?"
asked Colonel Winchester.

"Nothing living, sir," replied Dick Mason, as he swept his powerful
glasses in a half-curve. "There are hills on the right and in the
center, covered with thick, green forest, and on the left, where the
land lies low, the forest is thick and green too, although I think I
catch a flash of water in it."

"That should be the little river of which our map tells. And you,
Warner, what do your eyes tell you?"

"The same tale they tell to Dick, sir. It looks to me like a
wilderness."

"And so it is. It's a low-lying region of vast forests and thickets,
of slow deep rivers and creeks, and of lagoons and bayous. If Northern
troops want to be ambushed they couldn't come to a finer place for it.
Forrest and five thousand of his wild riders might hide within rifle
shot of us in this endless mass of vegetation. And so, my lads, it
behooves us to be cautious with a very great caution. You will recall
how we got cut up by Forrest in the Shiloh time."

"I do, sir," said Dick and he shuddered as he recalled those terrible
moments. "This is Mississippi, isn't it?"

Colonel Winchester took a small map from his pocket, and, unfolding it,
examined it with minute care.