Colonel Heathcote was not especially known beyond his own division; in it, he was considered a good officer, cool, determined, and if distinguished at all, distinguished for rigidly obeying his orders, whatever they might be. It was related of him that once having been ordered to take his men up Little Reedy Run, when Big Reedy was plainly meant—Little Reedy, as everybody knew, being within the lines of the enemy, he calmly went up Little Reedy with his regiment. The enemy, startled by the sudden appearance of seven hundred men among their seven thousand, supposed of course that seventy thousand must be behind, and retreated in haste, a mile or two, before they discovered their error. The seven hundred, meanwhile, being wildly recalled by a dozen messengers, came back, with much camp equipage and other booty, together with a few shot in their bodies, sent by the returning and indignant Confederates, one of the balls being in the shoulder of the calm colonel himself.
When Dexter came upon Heathcote, a flush rose in his face. He did not hesitate, however, but walked directly up to the soldier. "Will you step aside with me a moment?" he said. "I want to speak to you."
Heathcote, too, had recognized his former companion at a glance. The two men walked together beyond earshot; then they paused.
But Dexter's fluency had deserted him. "You know?" he said.
"Yes."
"It does not make it any better, I fear, to say that my belief was an honest one."
"You were not alone; there were others who thought as you did. I care little about it now."
"Still, I—I wish to beg your pardon," said Dexter, bringing out the words with an effort. Then, having accomplished his task, he paused. "You are a more fortunate man than I am—than I have ever been," he added, gloomily. "But that does not lighten my mistake."
"Think no more of it," answered Heathcote. "I assure you, it is to me a matter of not the slightest consequence."
The words were double-edged, but Dexter bore them in silence. They shook hands, and separated, nor did they meet again for many years.