"There's no reason," he said, "to be uneasy about Harrison, general."
"Uneasy about Harrison!" exclaimed the general. "Tom Harrison can whip all the militia in Alabama. But what shall I do with my poor wounded boys? We are a thousand miles from home, and no way to carry them comfortably?"
He had to leave his wounded, and he took rather odd but effective means to have them well cared for. Having succeeded in capturing a company of Montgomery Cadets, the members of which were all young boys of less than seventeen years of age, he had them drawn up near his quarters, and released them unconditionally, with this suggestion:
"Boys," he said, "go home and tell your parents that Rousseau does not war on women and children; and, mark you! do you see that they don't make war on wounded prisoners."
The Cadets were modest enough to be glad to be considered and laughed at as boys on condition of their release; and on returning home showed their gratitude to Rousseau by taking as good care of his wounded as they were permitted to do.
When Sherman sent Rousseau on this raid to the rear of Hood's army (it was Joe Johnston's when Rousseau started), he did not anticipate his early return, nor expect him and his force to escape capture. When Rousseau reported to him on his return from the raid, Sherman was as much surprised as delighted, He made Rousseau detail the work of destruction which he had accomplished. After he had done so, Sherman said,
"That's well done, Rousseau, well done; but I didn't expect to see you back."
"Why not?" asked Rousseau, somewhat surprised.
"I expected you to tear up the road, but I thought they would gobble you."
"You are a pretty fellow," said Rousseau, laughingly, "to send me off on such a trip."