Joe looked at him. He said, evenly, "Yes, sir."
The Baron's face had gone dark, as much in anger at his son, as with the upstart cavalry captain. He began to growl ominously, "Captain Mauser, rejoin your command and obey your orders."
Joe Mauser's facial expression indicated that he had expected this. He kept his voice level however, even under the chuckling scorn of his immediate superior, Balt Haer.
He said, "Sir, I will be able to tell you where Marshal Cogswell is, and every troop at his command."
For a moment there was silence, all but a stunned silence. Then the major who had suggested the Saugerties field command headquarters were a fake, blurted a curt laugh.
"This is no time for levity, captain," Balt Haer clipped. "Get to your command."
A colonel said, "Just a moment, sir. I've fought with Joe Mauser before. He's a good man."
"Not that good," someone else huffed. "Does he claim to be clairvoyant?"
Joe Mauser said flatly. "Have a semaphore man posted here this afternoon. I'll be back at that time." He spun on his heel and left them.
Balt Haer rushed to the door after him, shouting, "Captain! That's an order! Return—"