Page:Randall Parrish--My Lady of the South.djvu/98

MY LADY OF THE SOUTH nervously with his pencil, his eyes gazing out of the open door, his forehead creased with thought. Then he spoke rapidly, his mind evidently cleared for action.

"This looks decidedly serious to me, gentlemen, and I feel sufficient faith in Sergeant King's report to act immediately upon it. If it be true that Johnston is massing against our right, and has left the ford at Coulter's unguarded, this offers us an opportunity for a countermarch, if we only move swiftly enough. Hand me the maps, Major."

He studied these intently, measuring certain distances, asking a few rapid questions of various staff officers clustered about, and jotting down their replies.

"I am fully aware of the danger involved in dividing our force in the presence of the enemy," he said, at last, lifting his eyes to the faces anxiously watching him, "but to my mind, gentlemen, the peril will be even greater if we permit the enemy to carry out their present plans unchecked. If at this juncture we can only strike unexpectedly in their rear, we shall win. The aid of surprise will be with us, and it is worth much to an army just to feel that they are on the aggressive. Smiley, ride to McGirth and Williams; tell them to mass their brigades opposite Minersville, and to hold the ford at all cost; explain the situation to them fully. Wyatt, have Coit's brigade stationed in reserve in the hills back of the town. Now Parker, Seaman, Just, and Shea, start the remainder of our troops on forced march to Coulter's Ford: let there be no delay, not even to cook rations. Wilson will move first with the cavalry, to be immediately followed by [ 88 ]