It was late in the afternoon when they reached the Union camp. The first thing Margrave did upon his arrival was to acquaint the general with all the particulars, and requested to be shown those officers or soldiers who had that day returned from the rebel camp, in the hope of finding his sister. He was directed to Adjutant Hinton, and with a beating heart he sought his presence. He found the adjutant in deep grief, but he arose to receive him. "Why, you are the officer whom I saw standing upon the rock with my sister," said Margrave. "Then you are the brother of Alibamo?" "I am." "Do you know where she is?" "Where she is?" echoed Margrave, with surprise. "Why, I came here to learn where she is!" "Ah! yes. Well, my friend, I am deeply distressed with regard to your sister. She should have been here before this." "Why, did she not leave with you?" "She started with myself and friends, but we were met by overwhelming numbers about ten miles from this place, and a terrible fight ensued. Our captain was killed, or very badly wounded, and our party scattered. I saw Alibamo riding for the river, intending to swim her horse across it. The captain fell, and I turned to rescue him. He was nearly gone, but told me to save myself and Alibamo. That name acted like a magic, and, coward that I was, I left my captain, and sought her. But, I could not find her--neither any of my friends. I returned to camp alone! Oh! my God, if I had only remained, and died with them!" George, the negro, now entered the tent. His countenance was the very index of terror. "George, are they alive?" almost shrieked the adjutant. "Oh! yes--yes--Gor a mighty, massa adjutump--day's fifty ob em!" The adjutant saw the negro was too much frightened to give any correct account, and he tried to reassure him. "You are safe now. Nothing can harm you here." "Sartin shuah ob dat, massa adjutump?" "Sure, George. But now tell me what you know of our friends." "Oh! golly massa adjutump, dis chile neber was so skeered. Dar was fifty." "Where is Captain Hayward!" "Killed--dead--shuah pop--oh! golly!" "Where is Captain Young?" "He's here, massa adjutump." Captain Young entered the tent. "You are alive; but where are our friends?" asked the adjutant. "I know not, I lost sight of them, and supposed them all killed but myself." "George, where is Nettleton?" "I dun know. De las time dis chile see Cap'n Nettletum he jump his hos in the riber after de gal, O Lord!" "What became of the lady, George?" "Oh! golly! massa adjutump, she's safe wid de rebels!" "What do you mean?" "Why, ye see, massa adjutump, when dis chile see de cap'n fall down dead, he was so skeered he tumble rite off his horse. So I creep into de bushes, and just as de gal she got to de riber, a big black debil he cotch hold on her an say, 'Ha! ha! now I got hold on you, my booty,' and den he tuck her off an dis chile didn't see her no more."