“‘A prisoner has escaped from Fort Delaware,’ said one of the passengers near us, raising his eyes from a newspaper. Colonel Mohun laughed, and said carelessly, without sinking his voice in the least, ‘Ten to one they have found your friend, the lieutenant, Nighthawk!’ Such a man, general! It was enough to make your blood run cold! I thought _I_ was cool, but I assure you, I never imagined a man could equal _that_. “We reached Baltimore, made the connection with the train going west to Wheeling, and disembarked at Martinsburg. There the colonel procured a horse--rode to a friend’s on the Opequon--changed his blue dress for a citizen’s suit, and proceeded to Staunton, thence to Richmond, and yesterday rejoined his regiment, near Chancellorsville.” XX. GENERAL GRANT’S PRIVATE ORDER. Stuart kicked a log, which had fallen on the hearth, back into the fire, and said:-- “Well, Nighthawk, your narrative only proves one thing.” “What, general?” “That the writer who hereafter relates the true stories of this war, will be set down as a Baron Munchausen.” “No doubt of that, general.” “This escape of Colonel Mohun, for instance, will be discredited.” “No matter, it took place; but I have not told you what brought me over, general.” “Over?” “Yes, across the Rapidan. I did not go from Martinsburg to Richmond with Colonel Mohun. I thought I would come down and see what was going on in Culpeper. Accordingly I crossed the Blue Ridge at Ashby’s Gap, reached Culpeper--and last night crossed the Rapidan opposite Chancellorsville, where I saw Colonel Mohun, before whom I was carried as a spy.” “You bring news, then?” said Stuart, with sudden earnestness and attention. “Important news, general. The Federal army is about to move.” “To cross?” “Yes.” “Where--when!--what force!” “One hundred and forty thousand of all arms. I answer the last question first.” “And--” “The army will advance in two columns. The right--of Sedgwick’s and Warren’s corps--will cross at Germanna Ford. The left, consisting of Hancock’s corps, at Ely’s ford below. They have pontoon and bridge trains--and the movement will commence at midnight on the third--two days from now.” Stuart knit his brows, and buried his hand in his beard. Suddenly he called out to the orderly:-- “Have two horses saddled in five minutes!” And seizing his hat, he said:-- “Get ready to ride to General Lee’s head-quarters with me, Nighthawk!” The clerical looking emissary put on his respectable black hat. “You are certain of this intelligence?” Stuart said, turning with a piercing glance to him. “Quite certain, general,” said Mr. Nighthawk, serenely. “You were in the camps?” “In all, I believe, and at army head-quarters.” “You overheard your intelligence?” “No, I captured it, general.” “How?”