“Yes, captain. Reckon we shan’t sleep on our post.”
“I can trust you. Boyd Wyman, will you go to Dalton with us?”
“I couldn’t ride that distance to save my life. Even if I could, I feel it my duty to stay here.”
“Just as you choose.”
Without more delay, after detailing ten of his followers to remain with Sergeant Goodale, Captain Buck, with the rest of his party, headed toward Dalton.
CHAPTER XIII.
BETRAYED!
Johnston in fortifying himself at Dalton had not overlooked the possible need of an avenue of retreat or removal to some other position.
Accordingly he had repaired the roads leading into the different quarters of the surrounding country; and wherever his astute mind had deemed it expedient he had opened new passages.
This enabled him to move about with facility, divide or unite his forces as he choose, and made his capture more difficult.
In the whole history of the war we know of no instance where two officers were so evenly and squarely pitted against each other as far as individual characteristics were concerned as were Sherman and Johnston.