"What's the news ?" "There's a lot of it, and it's heavy with importance," replied Mortimer.
"Tell us a bit of it, can't you ?" "Sheridan has left his army and gone north.

That's one bit." "What ?" "It's so.

We know absolutely, and we've signaled it to General Early.
But we don't know why he has gone." "That is important." "It surely is, and he's taken his cavalry with him.

Our men have seen the troops riding northward.

Since Sheridan went away, the Union commander, whoever he is, has been strengthening his right, fearing an attack there, since he learned of our reappearance in the valley." "Therefore General Early will attack on the left ?" "Correct.