On General Thomas's Staff (1899) (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. THE PARALYZING HAND OF HALLECK. ENERAL O. M. MITCHELL sat in his head- quarters at Huntsville poring over a number of maps which were spread out on a table before him. He looked careworn, and his countenance had a troubled expression. At length he rolled up the maps, gave a sigh, and sat buried in deep thought. His meditations were interrupted by an orderly who came in, saluted, and said, "A courier, who has just arrived from Corinth with dispatches, awaits outside." "Show him in at once," said the general, eagerly, and a moment afterwards Hugh was ushered into the room. "Are you direct from General Halleck?" was the first question asked by Mitchell. "I am direct from General Nelson at luka," replied Hugh; "but he told me the dispatches I have were from Generals Halleck and Buell." "When did you leave luka?" " Three days ago." "Did you come through alone?" "Only from Rogersville to Athens. A comrade started with me, but he was killed near Rogersville.I should have been here some hours earlier had we not been attacked near that place by a squad of cavalry.'' "Ah you were attacked, then?" "Yes, general." "I will hear about it later. I must now look over the dispatches you have brought. Make yourself comfortable at my headquarters until I send for you." Hugh retired, and the general eagerly turned to his dispatches. As he read his brow contracted, and his whole face showed the most bitter disappointment. Having read them through, he dashed them to the floor in a passion, exclaiming: "All is lost All is lost Fools Fools " Arising, he paced the floor with quick, nervous steps. "What is the use of worrying," he at last muttered to himself. "My work will all be undone, but what will that matter to me? What fools what fools To ...