them he was looking for
some of his father's pigs.

"Mighty 'fraid sum ov yo-uns Yanks got 'em," he said, with a sigh.

"No doubt, sonny, no doubt," replied a soldier with a hearty laugh. "You
see, if a pig comes up and grunts at the flag, we have a right to kill him
for the insult offered. Probably your pigs were guilty of this heinous
crime, and were sacrificed for the good of the country."

"Do yo-uns mean the Yanks hev 'em?" asked Calhoun.

"Undoubtedly, sonny. What are you going to do about it?"

"Goin' to tell dad," replied Calhoun, as he limped off, for he pretended
to be lame.

Calhoun found that the post was picketed much more strongly to the east
than the west, for Castalian Springs lay to the west, and the Federals had
no idea that an attack would come from that direction. If attacked, the
Confederates would try to force the ford, or they would come from the
east. For this reason Calhoun decided that Morgan should cross the river
in between Hartsville and Castalian Springs, and assault from the west.

There was a ferry two miles below Hartsville where the infantry could
cross the river, but the cavalry would have to go to a ford seven miles or
within two miles of Castalian Springs. To his surprise, but great
gratification, he found neither the ferry nor the ford guarded.

Calhoun recrossed the river in safety, and joining his scouts, whom he had
left on the southern side of the river, he lost no time in making his way
back to Murfreesboro. Morgan heard his report with evident satisfaction.

"Our only danger," said Calhoun, as he finished his report, "is from the
force at Castalian Springs. From what I could learn there are at least
five thousand Federals there. To be successful we must surprise the camp
at Hartsville, capture the place, and re-cross the river before the force
from the Springs can reach us. A hard thing to do, but I believe it can be
done."

"So do I," said Morgan; "with General Bragg's consent, I will start at
once."

General Bragg not only gave his consent, but owing to the importance of
the expedition, added to Morgan's cavalry brigade two regiments of
infantry and a battery.

The force marched to within five miles of Hartsville, and halted until
night. The night proved very dark, and the way was rough. There was but
one small ferry-boat in which to cross the infantry, and it was 5:30 in
the morning before the infantry were all across, and in position two miles
from Hartsvill