"Take a troop of cavalry," came the command, "and make a reconnoissance
of the northeast!"
Quickly two officers nearby sprang from their horses and offered them to
the lads, for the latter had not yet had time to find steeds. The lads
sprang into the saddle, saluted their commander, and dashed away. To the
nearest cavalry force they hurried, where upon repeating General French's
order to the commander, they soon had a troop at their disposal.
A troop of cavalry is composed of one hundred men. It is usually
commanded by a captain.
Now it is very unusual for a commanding officer to have two lieutenants
on his staff, as had General French in the persons of Hal and Chester;
but the General had commissioned them as such on the spur of the moment,
and when they took command of the troop they consequently, for the time,
superseded the captain in command--for they were the personal
representatives of the General himself.
The two lads placed themselves at the head of the troop and rode forward
at a rapid trot. Past dense masses of infantry, battery after battery of
heavy artillery and troop upon troop of cavalry they rode toward the
northeast.
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