o spare," he said, as he
motioned Deck to a chair.

Deck had prepared his report in his mind before announcing himself, and
was as terse as any one could wish. The general listened attentively,
and studied the maps and the note-book with interest.

"This is another feather in your cap, Major Lyon," he said, at the
conclusion of the interview. "I shall make mention of it."

"The men under me are as much entitled to credit as myself," answered
the young major, wishing to be entirely fair. Yet it must be confessed
that his bosom swelled with pride at his commander's words.

"Possibly they are;--they shall be remembered also," was the rejoinder,
and then the major was dismissed, to make place for several others who
had come in to report.

"You ought to be an out-and-out scout, Deck!" cried Artie, when the two
got together later in the day. "Life has been telling me about what was
done. I only wish I had been along." And later on Sandy Lyon said the
same thing.

Information had been obtained, some days back, that the Union commander,
Burnside, had occupied Knoxville, and that his opponent, S. B. Buckner,
had retreated to Loudon. It was now stated that fifteen thousand
Confederate forces were on their way to join Bragg. The question was,
would the two forces concentrate in Chattanooga, or at some place
outside, to do battle with the army of the North?

As has been said, the Army of the Cumberland lay along the western base
of the mountains. On the 7th of September, Negley's division commenced
the ascent of the steep sides, and at four o'clock in the afternoon
gained the summit. A reconnaissance was made by Colonel Wood, and it was
found that the enemy had heavy guns in the vicinity, covering the
eastern side of the mountain. The next day General Negley seized
Cooper's and Stevens' Gaps, finding the latter heavily barricaded.

Other troops moved in various directions. The Riverlawns, with the
cavalry on the extreme right, were ordered to sweep through Broomtown
Valley and seize the railroad in the vicinity of Dalton, thus cutting
off the enemy's line of communication in this district.

The Riverlawns moved forward full of enthusiasm, and satisfied that at
last some sort of a battle was at hand. But, alas! those hopes were
doomed to disappointment. Bragg was leaving Chattanooga as fast as he
could, and by the 9th of the month, everybody in the Army of the
Cumberland knew it. Rosecrans had gained "The Gateway to Georgi