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instructions to forage as well as they can； and to have things in
readiness to cook for whoever may come in off duty or may for the
time be posted there。 Henceforth every man must groom and see
to his own horse； but I see no reason； military or otherwise； why
we shouldn't get our food cooked for us； and it will be just as well；
as long as we can； to have a few bundles of straw for us to lie on
instead of sleeping on the ground。
〃Another ten men we can also choose by lot to go to Winchester；
which is； I imagine； the point we shall move to if the enemy
advance； as I fancy they will； from the other side of the
Shenandoah Valley。 The rest must be sent home。〃
Each man accordingly wrote his name on a piece of paper； and
placed them in a haversack。 Then were then drawn out； and their
servants were to accompany the troop at once。 The servants of the
next ten were to proceed by train to Winchester； while the slaves
of all whose names remained in the bag were to be sent home at
once； provided with passes permitting them to travel。 To Vincent's
satisfaction his name was one of the first ten drawn； and Dan was
therefore to go forward。 The greater part of the men evaded the
obligation to send their servants back to Richmond by despatching
them to friends who had estates in the Shenandoah Valley； with
letters asking them to keep the men for them until the troop
happened to come into their neighborhood。
At six o'clock in the morning the troop mounted and rode to Bath；
thirty miles away。 It was here that Stuart bad his headquarters；
whence lie sent out his patrols up and down the Potomac； between
Harper's Ferry on the east and Cumberland on the west。 Stuart was
away when they arrived； but he rode in a few hours afterward。
〃Ah！ Ashley； I am glad you have arrived；〃 he said； as he rode up to
the troop； who had hastily mounted as he was seen approaching。
〃There is plenty for you to do； I can tell yen； and I only wish that
you had brought a thousand men instead of a hundred。 I am
heartily glad to see you all； gentlemen；〃 be said to the troop。 〃I am
afraid just at first that the brightness of your gray jackets will put
my men rather to shame； but we shall soon get rid of that。 But
dismount your men； Ashley； there is plenty for them and their
horses to do without wasting time in parade work。 There is very
little of that here； I can tell you。 I have not seen a score of my men
together for the last month。〃
Vincent gazed with admiration at the young leader； whose name
was soon to be celebrated throughout America and Europe。 The
young Virginian…for he was not yet twenty…eight years old…was the
beau ideal of a cavalry officer。 He was singularly handsome； and
possessed great personal strength and a constitution which enabled
him to bear all hardships。 He possessed unfailing good spirits； and
had a joke and laugh for all he met； and while on the march at the
head of his regiment he was always ready to lift up his voice and
lead the songs with which the men made the woods resound。
He seemed to live in his saddle； and was present at all hours of the
night and day along the line he guarded seeing that the men were
watchful and on the alert； instructing the outposts in their duty； and
infusing his own spirit and vigilance among them。 He had been
educated at West Point； and had seen much service with the
cavalry against the Indians in the West。 Such was the man who
was to become the most famous cavalry leader of his time。 So far
he had not come in contact with the enemy； and his duties were
confined to obtaining information regarding their strength and
intentions； to watching every road by which they could advance；
and to seeing that none passed north to carry information to the
enemy as to the Confederate strength and positions； for even in the
Shenandoah Valley there were some whose sympathies were with
the Federals。
These were principally Northern men settled as traders in the
towns； and it was important to prevent them from sending any
news to the enemy。 So well did Stuart's cavalry perform this
service； and so general was the hostility of the population against
the North； that throughout the whole of the war in Virginia it was
very seldom that the Northern generals could obtain any
trustworthy information as to the movements and strength of the
Confederates； while the latter were perfectly informed of every
detail connected with the intentions of the invaders。
The next morning Ashley's troop took up their share of the work at
the front。 They were broken up into parties of ten； each of which
was stationed at a village near the river； five men being on duty
night and day。 As it happened that none of the other men in his
squad had a servant at the front； Vincent was able without
difficulty te have Dan assigned to his party。 A house in the village
was placed at their disposal； and here the five off duty slept and
took their meals while the others were in the saddle。 Dan was
quite in his element； and turned out an excellent cook； and was
soon a general favorite among the mess。
CHAPTER VI。 BULL RUN。
THE NEXT fortnight passed by without adventure。 Hard as the
work was； Vincent enjoyed it thoroughly。 When on duty by day he
was constantly on the move； riding through the forest； following
country lanes； questioning every one he came across； and as the
men always worked in pairs； there was no feeling of loneliness。
Sometimes Ashley would draw together a score of troopers； and
crossing the river in a ferryboat； would ride twenty miles north；
and； dashing into quiet villages； astonish the inhabitants by the
sight of the Confederate uniform。 Then the villagers would be
questioned as to the news that had reached them of the movement
of the troops； the post office would be seized and the letters
broken open； any useful …information contained in them being
noted。 But in general questions were readily answered； for a
considerable portion of the people of Maryland were strongly in
favor of the South； and were only prevented from joining it by the
strong force that held possession of Baltimore； and by the constant
movement of Federal armies through the State。 Vincent was often
employed in carrying despatches from Major Ashley to Stuart；
being selected for that duty as being the best mounted man in the
troop。 The direction was always a vague one。 〃Take this letter to
Colonel Stuart； wherever lie may be；〃 and however early he
started； Vincent thought himself fortunate if he carried out his
mission before sunset； for Stuart's front covered over fifty miles of
ground； and there was no saying where he might be。 Sometimes
after riding thirty or forty miles； and getting occasional news that
Stuart had passed through ahead of him； he would learn from some
outpost that the colonel had been there but ten minutes before； and
had ridden off before he came； and then Vincent had to turn his
horse