The money was turned over to us by the Post Adjutant--Lawton receiving the same amount--and then turning to both of us--Mackenzie said: "In addition to those orders, I wish to give you special instructions for your guidance in this most important duty you are going on-- I shall not expect you to follow them implicitly but to be guided by circumstances arising at the moment--and which, being on the spot, you will know how to deal with better than anybody else--and to use your best judgment and wisest discretion at all times-- You are to keep one Corporal with you all the time, taking him into your confidence so far as you may deem it necessary for your success. You are to go in different directions-- Lawton is to go on the Decatur road--while you (the writer) are to follow the Weatherford road-- You are to cover all of the intermediate settlements near and beyond those towns, seeking at all times the assistance of the Civil authorities and holding out to them the prospect of the Government reward ($30) for the apprehension and delivery to you of each deserter-- The towns should only be entered at night and then with a deputy sheriff or other civil officer-- It should be systematically and thoroughly searched-- Should you find that these deserters have headed for the railroads, and you have traced them that far--and it becomes necessary, drop your detachment, leaving it in charge of one non-commissioned officer, while you take the other with you, continuing the pursuit, even if it leads to Galveston and New Orleans, or, even to New York"--and then, hesitating somewhat--he added--pitching his voice to a high key, and as was his habit--snapping the stumps of his amputated fingers--"_I don't want either of you to come back until you have accomplished results-- I want these men brought back and punished_-- Obey the _Civil Laws_ and if they are not violated and you stick to the spirit of your instructions, I will cover all of your acts with a '_blanket order_.'" The writer suggested that Lawton and himself, and the Corporals whom we might select to remain with us wherever we went--should go in citizens clothes, since, if we had to "cut loose" from our detachments, we would be able to co-operate more effectively with the Civil Authorities when we might be acting as detectives about the large towns, especially at night-- To this Mackenzie readily agreed, saying that it was an excellent and practical suggestion-- He included this idea in his instructions-- The writer had been at an immense conscript and draft rendezvous during the Civil War--among the worst classes of "substitutes" and "bounty jumpers"--ever known in the history of our Army-- They were deserters from every Army and Navy of the world; had come over here for the huge bounties paid under our vicious conscript laws--only to desert--re-enlist and repeat the method again and again-- We frequently mingled with them in citizens clothes--got their plans, and either thwarted them or caused their