In truth, all of them were, but no one spoke of halting or complained in any manner.
At sunrise they stopped in dense forest at the banks of a creek, and watered their horses.

They cooked what food they had left, and after eating rested for several hours on the ground, most of them going to sleep, while a few men kept a vigilant watch.
When Dick awoke it was nearly noon, and he still felt sore from his exertions.

An hour later they all mounted and rode again toward Nashville.

Near night they boldly entered a small village and bought food.

The inhabitants were all strongly Southern, but villagers love to talk, and they learned there in a manner admitting of no doubt, that the Confederate army was retreating southward from the line of the Cumberland, that the state capital had been abandoned, and that to the eastward of them the Union army, under Buell, was advancing swiftly on Nashville.
"At least we accomplished our mission," said Colonel Winchester with some return of cheerfulness.