“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?”