Book Description

Excerpt from The Rivals; Or the Grey Vs; The Blue: A Tragedy Stuart. Well spoken, sir. I have all confidence in your ability and willingness to perform the duty to which I am about to assign you. I am much in need of an efficient scout to keep me informed of the movements of Gen. Grant, and feeling that I can rely on your prudence and skill, I hereby commission you for that duty. You may select such of your comrades from the "Jeff. Davis Legion" as you may wish to aid you in the discharge of the arduous task to which you are assigned. [Writing an order.] Who will you have, Sergeant, that I may include them in this order? Shad. General, I would like Bob Harrison, or Sleepy Jack, as he is called, of Company C. I have seen him tried, and know him to be as true as steel. Stuart. Why do they call him Sleepy Jack? Shad. It is only a nick-name given him by his comrades, because he is so hard to wake: but he can stand more hard marching than any man I ever saw. Stuart. You shall have him, sir; who else do you wish? Shad. James Bond, known better in the "Jeff." under the sobriquet of Night Hawk, for being ever wide-awake, and seeing and knowing more that transpires at night than the camp guard. He is a good one, General, and can be relied on in any emergency. Stuart. I have included him. Any one else? Shad. No, General, they are sufficient for the present. Stuart. Why, only two? Shad. And I make three. Stuart. A spike team, upon my word. Shad. If you will pardon the expression, General, I can assure you that Hawk and Jack are, in themselves, a whole six mule team, and you will find it out ere long. Stuart. You know them best, Sergeant, and I am willing to trust to your judgment. You will enter the enemy's lines, gain all the information you can, as to their movements, numbers, &c., that may be important, and report promptly to me in person or by one of your trusted men. Grant's pickets are near Howard's Church, where I wish you to go at once, and see what movement is contemplated in that direction. [Shadburn rises.] About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.