The Southern pickets did not reach so far, and save for the two tiny streams in the hills this was all the water that the Northern army could reach.

Farther down, its muddy and detached stream lay within the Confederate lines.
Crossing the creek's bed the sergeant ascended a wooded ridge, and now he proceeded with extreme caution.

He had learned that beyond this ridge was another creek containing much more water than the first.

Upon its banks at the crossing of the road stood the village of Perryville, and there, according to his best information and belief, lay the Southern army.

But he meant to see with his own eyes and hear with his own ears, and thus return to McCook's force with absolute certainty.
The sergeant, as he had expected, found cover more plentiful than it was on the plains, but he never stalked an Indian camp with more caution.