Page:Randall Parrish - The Red Mist.djvu/314

 294 there. One was a buff packet, which had been roughly torn open, but which bore no inscription; the others ordinary appearing letters addressed to Cowan. The latter I barely glanced at, assuring myself they contained nothing of special interest, but examined the contents of the buff packet with care, convinced that this was the one taken from Major Harwood the night of his murder.

The packet contained several official papers, emanating from General Ramsay's headquarters. Two of these related to army operations in western Virginia, and the present distribution of troops, requesting the dispatch of another regiment of infantry to help free the country from guerrillas. There was also a personal letter from Ramsay to McClellan giving more intimate details, and a general review of the situation, but the principal paper was a carefully prepared list of irregulars operating throughout the mountain country, with names of the better known leaders, the estimated strength of each separate gang, the region in which they hid, and the side they espoused, if any. This had evidently been carefully prepared by some staff-officer, undoubtedly Major Harwood himself, as the letter referred to him as having been detailed to such duty, and was full and complete. I found therein this mention of the Cowans: "Father and two sons; probably