"Whew-w!" whistled Wallace. "Lucky boy. That must be great. How did it happen?"
Mutual explanations followed and before long each of the boys knew the main facts of the other's history since they parted, nearly two years before.
"There are other old acquaintances of yours with us," said Wallace, presently. "You remember Sergeant Jones, who commanded the artillery at Fort Ridgely?"
"Indeed I do," Al replied, recalling with quickened pulses the Sergeant's gallantry. "Is he here?"
"Yes. He is now Captain Jones, of the Third Minnesota Battery and he is in command of our artillery; two six-pounder field guns and two twelve-pounder mountain howitzers, of his battery."
"He certainly deserved promotion for his work at Fort Ridgely," exclaimed Al, enthusiastically.
"Yes, he did," agreed Wallace, "and his men say he is a fine officer."
"Is Lieutenant Sheehan along?" asked Al.
"No, the Fifth has been down South for nearly two years, and he with them. But you remember Major Brown? He is chief of scouts with us, and has a company of about fifty Indians. Then there are several men among our different regiments who were at Fort Ridgely as refugees and who have since enlisted."