“I should say it is a shame!” cried Robert angrily. “Why should we stand for it?”
“What can we do?” queried Joseph. “We are left here with no orders. Certainly if they wanted us they would have asked us to come.”
“Well then, if we have no orders why can’t we go anywhere we please?” Robert protested. “I’d follow along if I were General Henry.”
“We can’t do that,” said Mason. “I guess we’re left.”
Henry’s brigade was stationed on the top of a bluff, not far from the river.
Sounds of firing came to the men left there and a feeling of intense rage at the affront offered them possessed everyone present. For days and weeks they had fought their way through countless difficulties and had endured untold hardships. Now that the prize was almost in their grasp they were denied any share in it.
Suddenly two men on horseback appeared, riding furiously from the direction of the river.
“Two of Ewing’s spy battalion,” announced Joseph, as he recognized the men. “I wonder what they want.”
The horsemen at once sought General Henry and excitedly began to talk and gesticulate to him. They continually pointed toward the river in the direction whence they had come. As they finished speaking, General Henry drew his sword, waved it above his head and gave the order to advance.
“What is it? What’s going on?” demanded Robert.