"Yes. They must wait until nightfall to get into position. Send Captain McLaughlin to me in half an hour's time." "Yes, sir. Captain Colston of the 2d is here--" "Very good. I will see him now. That is all, major." The chief of staff withdrew. Captain Colston of the 2d approached from the shadows beyond the big pine and saluted. "You are from this region, captain?" "Yes, sir. The _Honeywood_ Colstons." "This stone mill is upon your land?" "Yes, sir. My mother owns it." "You have been about the dam as a boy?" "Yes, sir. In the water above it and in the water below it. I know every log, I reckon. It works the mill." "If we break it, it will work the mill no longer. In addition, if the enemy cross, they will probably destroy the property." "Yes, sir. My mother and I would not let that weigh with us. As I know the construction I should esteem it an honour, sir, if I might lead the party. I think I may say that I know where the cribs could be most easily cut." "Very good then, sir. You will report for duty at nine to-night. Captain Holliday of the 33d and Captain Robinson of the 27th, with a number of their men, have volunteered for this service. It is not without danger, as you know. That is all." Captain Colston departed. "Now, Captain Cleave," said the general. A few minutes later, the report ended, Jackson refolded General Banks's letter to General Kelly and put it into his pocket-book. "Good! good!" he said, and turned slightly on the camp-stool so as to face the river and the north. "It's all right, captain, it's all right!" "I wish, sir," said Cleave, "that with ten times the numbers you have, you were leading us across the river. We might force a peace, I think, and that right quickly." Jackson nodded. "Yes, sir, I ought to have every soldier in Virginia--if they could be gotten here in time every soldier in the Carolinas. There would then be but a streamlet of blood where now there is going to be a great river. The streamlet should run through the land of them with whom we are righteously at war. As it is, the great river will run through ours." He rose. "You have done your mission well, sir. The 65th will be up presently." * * * * * It took three days to cut Dam No. 5. On the fourth the brigade went back to Winchester. A week later came Loring with the Army of the Kanawha, and on the third of January the whole force found itself again upon the road.