I do not know what he and John talked about, but they got very friendly, and John invited him to come clear across to our side, which invitation he accepted.

I noticed at the time that while John swam, the Yankee waded, remarking that he couldn't swim.

The river was but little over waist deep.

Well, they came across and we swapped a few lies, canteens and tobacco, and then the Yankee went back, wading all the way across the stream.

That man was General Wilder, commanding the Federal cavalry, and at the battle of Missionary Ridge he threw his whole division of cavalry across the Tennessee river at that point, thus flanking Bragg's army, and opening the battle.