“I have orders from Washington to divide my regiment.  The Southern forces are operating at three points in Kentucky.  They are gathering at Columbus on the Mississippi, at Bowling Green in the south, and here in the mountains there is a strong division under an officer named Zollicoffer.  Scattered forces of our men, the principal one led by a Virginian named Thomas, are endeavoring to deal with Zollicoffer.  The Secretary of War regrets the division of the regiment, but he thinks it necessary, as all our detached forces must be strengthened.  I go on with the main body of the regiment to join Grant, near the mouth of the Ohio.  You, Major Hertford, will take three companies and march south in search of Thomas, but be careful that you are not snapped up by the rebels on the way.  And if you can get volunteers and join Thomas with your force increased threefold, so much the better.”

“I shall try my best, sir,” said Major Hertford, “and thank you for this honor.”

Dick and Warner stood by without a word, but Dick cast an appealing look at Colonel Newcomb.

“Yes, I know,” said the Colonel, who caught the glance.  “This is your state, and you wish to go with Major Hertford.  You are to do so.  So is your friend, Lieutenant Warner, and, Major Hertford, I also lend to you Sergeant Whitley, who is a man of much experience and who has already proved himself to be of great value.”

The three saluted and were grateful.  They longed for action, which they believed would come more quickly with Major Hertford’s column.  A little later, when military form permitted it, the two boys thanked Colonel Newcomb in words.

“Maybe you won’t thank me a few days from now,” said the colonel a little grimly, “but I am hopeful that our plans here in Eastern Kentucky will prove successful, and that before long you will be able to join the great forces in the western part of the state.  You are both good boys and now, good-bye.”

The preparations for the mountain column, as Dick and Warner soon called it, had been completed.  They were on foot, but they were well armed, well clothed, and they had supplies loaded in several wagons, purchased hastily in the village.  A dozen of the strong mountaineers volunteered to be drivers and guides, and the major was glad to have them.  Later, several horses were secured for the officers, but, meanwhile, the train was ready to depart.

Colonel Newcomb waved them farewell, the faithful and valiant Canby opened the throttle, and the train steamed away.  The men in the little column, although eager for their new task, watched its departure with a certain sadness at parting with their comrades.  The train became smaller and smaller, then it was only a spiral of smoke, and that, too, soon died on the clear western horizon.

“And now to find Thomas!” said Major Hertford, who retained Dick and Warner on his staff, practically its only members, in fact.  “It looks odd to hunt through the mountains for a general and his army, but we’ve got it to do, and we’ll do it.”