124 WHIP AND SPUR. 



almost incessant, day and night; without inci- 

 dent, that is, that it is worth while to tell here, 

 but our days and nights upon the road were filled 

 with annoyance and disgust, and with a store of 

 unhappy and ludicrous memories that will last 

 the lifetime of all who knew them. 



One day, at New Albany, Max and I were feed- 

 ing and sleeping in the door of an old mill while 

 the command was slowly crossing the antiquated 

 bridge over the Tallahatchie, when I was awak- 

 ened by Grierson's riding up in great alarm, call- 

 ing upon me " for God's sake " to use the ford 

 as well as the bridge, for Hepburn was being cut 

 to pieces in the rear, and I must give him the 

 full road for his retreat. I had always been a 

 respectful subordinate, but none of us were then 

 in the best temper ; I did not believe a word of 

 it, and I frankly told him so. Even old Max 

 pricked up his ears and snorted as if in derision. 

 Almost as we were talking, there came an aid 

 from Hepburn saying that he had found a good 

 supply of forage and would be glad to go into 

 camp for the night. But there was no camp to 



