"I'm afraid those guerillas who claim to be our allies are going to do us a great deal of harm.

Well, we'll turn back into the road, if you can call this stream of icy mud a road, and go on." Another mile and they caught the gleam of water among the wintry boughs.
Dick knew that it was the Cumberland which was now a Southern artery, bringing stores and arms for the army of Crittenden and Zollicoffer.
Even here, hundreds of miles from its mouth, it was a stream of great depth, easily navigable, and far down its current they saw faintly the smoke of two steamers.
"They bear supplies for the Southern army," said Captain Markham.

"We can cut off the passage of boats on this river and for that reason, so General Thomas concludes, the Southern army is going to attack us.

What do you think of his reasoning, sergeant ?" "Beggin' your pardon, sir, for passin' an opinion upon my general," replied Sergeant Whitley, "but I think his reasons are good.

Here it is the dead of winter, with more mud in the roads than I ever saw before anywhere, but there's bound to be a battle right away.