Satisfied with Eggleston's answers, Davis sat in thought a moment, and then continued: "I am anxious to send some one through the entire line of the Confederate armies in such a way that he will be present at all the great battles and end up at the battle of Gettysburg.

Can you do it ?" Randolph looked at his chief with a flush of pride.
"I can." "Good!" resumed Davis.

"To accomplish this task you must carry despatches.

What they will be about I have not yet decided.

But it is customary in such cases to write them so that they are calculated, if lost, to endanger the entire Confederate cause.