“I couldn’t ride that distance to save my life. Even if I could, I feel it my duty to stay here.” “Just as you choose.” Without more delay, after detailing ten of his followers to remain with Sergeant Goodale, Captain Buck, with the rest of his party, headed toward Dalton. CHAPTER XIII. BETRAYED! Johnston in fortifying himself at Dalton had not overlooked the possible need of an avenue of retreat or removal to some other position. Accordingly he had repaired the roads leading into the different quarters of the surrounding country; and wherever his astute mind had deemed it expedient he had opened new passages. This enabled him to move about with facility, divide or unite his forces as he choose, and made his capture more difficult. In the whole history of the war we know of no instance where two officers were so evenly and squarely pitted against each other as far as individual characteristics were concerned as were Sherman and Johnston. Either was as well prepared for the defeat of his plans as for their success, nor did victory unduly elate him. Each had an eye to his surroundings and was continually calling into acquisition the advantage offered by the surface of the country. The march to Reseca was performed with the ease and rapidity that marked the Confederate commander’s entire campaign. Cavalry Curt, we remember, had actually entered the rebel ranks, and leaving Mara Morland in her grief and hopeless condition we must, in order to keep along with the occurrence of events, turn to narrate the scout’s checkered fortunes. Warned of Sherman’s premeditated attack by McPherson upon Reseca under cover of an assault in Buzzard Roost led by Thomas, and Schofield’s march toward Dalton, Johnston had on the fifteenth of May ordered Canty’s cavalry to that place. Soon after its arrival this skirmishing brigade had become engaged with the advance columns of the Northern troops to be driven back. McPherson thus unexpectedly met by the foe, whom he had hoped to find asleep, halted. Thus the two forces were looking and waiting for each other to move, neither knowing the other’s strength, when on the evening of the ninth three divisions of Johnston’s infantry marched to the succor of the threatened town. The arrival of the re-inforcements was the signal for rejoicing, and plans were quickly laid for more hostile movements. That the enemy’s position and actual resources as to numbers, armament, etc., might be more definitely known a squad of six under one Lieutenant Boggs was detailed to reconnoiter the field. Cavalry Curt to his infinite satisfaction was one of the scouts. Once outside the picket line the scouts moved cautiously, yet swiftly forward, the sense of each man strained to catch the least sound or to detect the slightest movement upon the night scene.