The commander took the packet from his orderly’s hand, and with a nervous hand broke the seal.
“Sherman’s army is on the move,” he muttered under his breath. “Thomas is on a march to Buzzard’s Gap. At last the campaign has opened and the time for more decisive action on our part has come. Colonel Markham,” turning to one of his subordinates, “I leave the fate of the prisoner in your hands. More important duties engage my attention. Have ten men detailed from your regiment placed under charge of a competent officer who shall see that the prisoner immediately meets the fate of a spy. Remember, colonel, immediately; for we know not how soon we may be obliged to move. Sherman has begun work.”
“I will see that your orders are carried out to the letter, general.”
CHAPTER VII.
PUT TO THE TEST.
Captain Morland was alone in his tent, when an orderly appeared at the door and handed him a paper.
We need not be told that he is Mara Morland’s brother; there is a strong likeness between the two.
He is a manly-looking fellow who has entered heart and soul into the struggle for the Southern cause. He has already seen much of hard service and is ready for more.
Tearing open the paper he read:
Headquarters of
Fifth Georgia Inf., C. S. A.,
May 6th, 1864.
}