"Yes, sir. He asks instructions."
"Tell him to use his discretion. He's on the spot."
The courier wheeled and rode back as the crash of a musket rang out beside the baggage wagon.
"What's that?" Taylor asked sharply.
"It can't be an attack," Gordon wondered. "A truce is in force."
Sam rushed to Lee.
"Hit's Marse Ruffin, sah," he whispered. "He put de muzzle er de gun in his mouf an' done blow his own head clean off!"
"See to him, Taylor," Lee ordered. "The old ones will quit, I'm afraid."
A courier rode up and handed him another dispatch. He read it slowly.
"Fitzhugh Lee says the message was a mistake, the road is still blocked.
Only a company of raiders broke through."