Chapter XXII—John Jordan's Dangerous Journey.
Col. Garfield had already sent on his regiment in advance to Louisa, twenty-eight miles up the Big Sandy.
There he joined them on the 24th, having waited at Catlettsburg only long enough to forward to them necessary supplies.
The arrival of the regiment was opportune, for the district was thoroughly alarmed. A regiment had been stationed there—the Fourteenth Kentucky—but had hastily retreated to the mouth of the river during the night of the 19th, under the impression that Marshall was advancing with his forces to drive them into the Ohio. It was a false alarm, but the Union citizens were very much alarmed, and were preparing with their families to cross the river for safety. With the appearance of Garfield's regiment a feeling of security returned.
I am anxious to make plain to my boy readers the manner in which the young colonel managed his campaign. I think they will have no difficulty in understanding that Garfield had two very difficult things to accomplish. Colonel Craven knew nothing of Garfield's advance, nor of his plans. It was necessary to inform him. Again, if possible, a junction must be effected. The first was difficult, because the intervening country was infested with roving bands of guerrillas, and a messenger must take his life in his hands. How, again, could a junction be effected in the face of a superior enemy, liable to fall upon either column and crush it?
Obviously the first thing was to find a messenger.
Garfield applied to Col. Moore of the Fourteenth Kentucky, and made known his need.
"Have you a man," he asked, "who will die rather than fail or betray us?"
"Yes," answered the Kentuckian, after a pause, "I think I have. His name is John Jordan, and he comes from the head of the Blaine."
This was a small stream which entered the Big Sandy, a short distance from the town.