"I'd give a good deal to know where Mitchel is at just this minute," said
Tom.

"So would I," replied Dorsey. "I hope we're not making a mistake by
delaying a day."

"It's my opinion," said Brown, "that when Mitchel starts to do a thing, it
takes more than mud to stop him."

They walked on silently toward the hotel.

While they drifted off to sleep that night, General Mitchel was perfecting
the last details of the attack upon Huntsville. Every road was blocked by
scouts to prevent the news of the advance going before them. Ten miles to
the south lay Huntsville, unaware of the approaching army.

The last rush of the advance commenced at two o'clock in the morning.
Mitchel's weary army struggled to its feet, and stood ready to march. The
cavalry was the first away, and disappeared silently into the night. There
were no bugle calls, and no shouting. Even the noise of the horses' hoofs
was deadened by the deep mud of the road. The four cannons which the
cavalry took with it fell into position; then the infantry moved forward.
As each regiment passed, General Mitchel addressed his men; then when the
last of them was on the road, he and his aides pressed towards the front.

When daylight came, the cavalry was four miles from Huntsville. The first
section of cavalry galloped to the west of the town, the second to the
east, while the remaining cavalrymen, led by General Mitchel, dashed for
the station. Now all restraints upon noise were removed. The shouting of