It was not our purpose to fight before we reached General Sheridan, but since the enemy wants it, it must be that way." Orders were issued for the column to advance as quietly as possible, while skirmishers were thrown out to prevent any ambush.

Shepard rode again into the forest but Dick remained with Warner and Pennington.
Warner as usual was as cool as ice, and spoke in the precise, scholarly way that he liked.
"We march parallel with the enemy," he said, "and yet we're bound to meet him and fight.

It's a beautiful mathematical demonstration.

The roads are not parallel in an exact sense but converge to a point.

Hence, it is not our wish, but the convergence of these roads that brings us together in conflict.