XX. — GENERAL GRANT’S PRIVATE ORDER.
Stuart kicked a log, which had fallen on the hearth, back into the fire, and said:—
“Well, Nighthawk, your narrative only proves one thing.”
“What, general?”
“That the writer who hereafter relates the true stories of this war, will be set down as a Baron Munchausen.”
“No doubt of that, general.”
“This escape of Colonel Mohun, for instance, will be discredited.”
“No matter, it took place; but I have not told you what brought me over, general.”
“Over?”
“Yes, across the Rapidan. I did not go from Martinsburg to Richmond with Colonel Mohun. I thought I would come down and see what was going on in Culpeper. Accordingly I crossed the Blue Ridge at Ashby’s Gap, reached Culpeper—and last night crossed the Rapidan opposite Chancellorsville, where I saw Colonel Mohun, before whom I was carried as a spy.”
“You bring news, then?” said Stuart, with sudden earnestness and attention.
“Important news, general. The Federal army is about to move.”
“To cross?”
“Yes.”
“Where—when!—what force!”
“One hundred and forty thousand of all arms. I answer the last question first.”
“And—”
“The army will advance in two columns. The right—of Sedgwick’s and Warren’s corps—will cross at Germanna Ford. The left, consisting of Hancock’s corps, at Ely’s ford below. They have pontoon and bridge trains—and the movement will commence at midnight on the third—two days from now.”
Stuart knit his brows, and buried his hand in his beard. Suddenly he called out to the orderly:—
“Have two horses saddled in five minutes!” And seizing his hat, he said:—
“Get ready to ride to General Lee’s head-quarters with me, Nighthawk!”
The clerical looking emissary put on his respectable black hat.
“You are certain of this intelligence?” Stuart said, turning with a piercing glance to him.
“Quite certain, general,” said Mr. Nighthawk, serenely.
“You were in the camps?”
“In all, I believe, and at army head-quarters.”
“You overheard your intelligence?”
“No, I captured it, general.”
“How?”
“A courier was sent in haste—I saw the commander-in-chief speaking to him. I followed—came up with him in a hollow of the woods—and was compelled to blow his brains out, as he would not surrender. I then searched his body, and found what I wanted. There it is general.”
And Nighthawk drew forth a paper.
“What is it?” exclaimed Stuart.
“Grant’s confidential order to his corps commanders, general, directing the movements of his army.”
Stuart seized it, read it hastily, and uttered an exclamation of satisfaction. Ten minutes afterward he was going at full speed, accompanied by Nighthawk, toward General Lee’s head-quarters.