f Wheeler's cavalry. This showed that the
Confederate cavalry were watching for General Mitchell's troops to the
north of Lafayette.

Shoving the note-book and maps into his pocket, Deck ordered his men on
the return, the prisoners to ride behind himself and Life, with the five
sharpshooters in the rear. He felt that he had gained sufficient
information to warrant his return. To use an old phrase, "the cat was
out of the bag," and it would not be long before General Bragg would
bring out his troops from Chattanooga and vicinity to do the Army of the
Cumberland battle.

CHAPTER XXIV

OPERATIONS IN McLEMORE'S COVE

Captain Vallingham was a graduate of West Point who had gone into the
volunteer service of the South immediately after Fort Sumter was fired
upon. He had attached himself to the cavalry at first, but had soon been
transferred, by his own wish, to the signal corps.

The corps as operated in the army of Tennessee under General Braxton
Bragg was a poor one, yet it did some excellent work in those districts
where travelling from one hilltop to another was slow work, but where
the topography was just right for sending messages from point to point
by means of various signalling apparatuses.

The captain was a brave fellow, and four years at our national military
academy had "taught him a thing or two," as old army officers are wont
to express it. He was a prisoner of the enemy, but he did not intend to
remain so very long, if he could help it. To think that he had been
captured by a Union officer much younger than himself, supported by only
one or two followers, filled him with chagrin, and he resolved to square
matters with Deck at the first opportunity.

Like the young major of the first battalion, the Confederate captain
owned a horse that he had trained from ponyhood; but, unlike Deck, he
still possessed the steed and was now riding him. In addition to this,
the Confederate officer knew every foot of the ground the whole party
were now traversing. He resolved to make use of his knowledge and of the
abilities of his horse at the first opportunity.

The chance was not long in coming. At one point in the trail along the
creek, the rocks came to within ten feet of the water, so that the safe
part of the road was only wide enough for one rider to pass along at a
time. Consequently, the party had to move ahead in single file, Captain
Knox leading, Deck following, and Captain Vallingham coming next, wit