We were to rendezvous later at a certain point.

Having some time to spare, and being near the family homestead at Beech Grove, I put in there.
It was midnight when I reached my destination.

I had been erroneously informed that the Union Army was on the retreat--quite gone from the neighborhood; and next day, believing the coast was clear, I donned a summer suit and with a neighbor boy who had been wounded at Shiloh and invalided home, rode over to visit some young ladies.

We had scarcely been welcomed and were taking a glass of wine when, looking across the lawn, we saw that the place was being surrounded by a body of blue-coats.

The story of their departure had been a mistake.