CONTENTS I. AT BELLEVUE II. FORREST III. GRANT MOVES IV. DICK'S MISSION V. HUNTED VI. A BOLD ATTACK VII. THE LITTLE CAPITAL VIII. CHAMPION HILL IX. THE OPEN DOOR X. THE GREAT ASSAULT XI. THE TAKING OF VICKSBURG XII. AN AFFAIR OF THE MOUNTAINS XIII. THE RIVER OF DEATH XIV. THE ROCK OF CHICKAMAUGA XV. BESIDE THE BROOKTHE ROCK OF CHICKAMAUGACHAPTER I. AT BELLEVUE"You have the keenest eyes in the troop. Can you see anything ahead?"asked Colonel Winchester."Nothing living, sir," replied Dick Mason, as he swept his powerfulglasses in a half-curve. "There are hills on the right and in thecenter, covered with thick, green forest, and on the left, where theland lies low, the forest is thick and green too, although I think Icatch a flash of water in it.""That should be the little river of which our map tells. And you,Warner, what do your eyes tell you?""The same tale they tell to Dick, sir. It looks to me like awilderness.""And so it is. It's a low-lying region of vast forests and thickets,of slow deep rivers and creeks, and of lagoons and bayous. If Northerntroops want to be ambushed they couldn't come to a finer place for it.Forrest and five thousand of his wild riders might hide within rifleshot of us in this endless mass of vegetation. And so, my lads, itbehooves us to be cautious with a very great caution. You will recallhow we got cut up by Forrest in the Shiloh time.""I do, sir," said Dick and he shuddered as he recalled those terriblemoments. "This is Mississippi, isn't it?"Colonel Winchester took a small map from his pocket, and, unfolding it,examined it with minute care.