Then I came away."
"She did well," said Colonel Winchester. "The rebels are concentrating
about Lexington, but the battle, I think, will take place far south of
that city."
Before the day was old they heard news that changed their opinion for the
time at least. A scout brought news that a division of the Confederate
army was much nearer than Lexington; in fact, that it was at Frankfort,
the capital of the state. And the news was heightened in interest by the
statement that the division was there to assist in the inauguration of a
Confederate government of the state, so little of which the Confederate
army held.
Colonel Winchester at once applied to General Buell for permission for
a few officers like himself, natives of Kentucky and familiar with the
region, to ride forward and see what the enemy was really doing. Dick
was present at the interview and it was characteristic.
"If you leave, what of your regiment, Colonel Winchester?" said General
Buell.
"I shall certainly rejoin it in time for battle."
"Suppose the enemy should prevent you?"
"He cannot do so.
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