"
"I reckon you're right thar, stranger. But was you at Champion Hill?"
"No, I missed that."
"Then it was a good thing for you that you did. I didn't set much store
by the Yanks when this war began. One good Southerner could whip five of
'em any time, our rip-roarin', fire-eatin' speech-makers said. I knowed
then, too, that they was right, but I was up thar in Kentucky a while,
an' after Donelson I reckoned that four was about as many as I wanted to
tackle all to oncet. Then thar was Shiloh, an' I kinder had a thought
that if three of 'em jumped on me at one time I'd hev my hands purty full
to lick 'em. Then come Corinth, an,' reasonin' with myself, I said I
wouldn't take on more'n two Yanks at the same time. An' now, since I've
been at Champion Hill, I know that the Yank is a pow'ful good fighter,
an' I reckon one to one jest about suits me, an' even then I'd like to
have a leetle advantage in the draw."
"I feel that way about it, too. The Yankees are going to make a heap of
trouble for us here. But I must be going. What's the best path into
Vicksburg?"
"See that little openin' in the bushes.
Pages:
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269