"If you don't it won't be a minute before Pennington will begin to talk about his Nebraska plains, and how he'd like to see the buffalo herds ten million strong, rocking the earth as they go galloping by." Pennington smiled.
"I won't see the buffalo herds," he said, "but look at the wild fowl going north." They left the window as the rain had ceased, and went outside.

All this region was still primitive and thinly settled, and now they saw flocks of wild ducks and wild geese winging northward.

The next day the heavens themselves were darkened by an immense flight of wild pigeons.

The country cut up by so many rivers, creeks and brooks swarmed with wild fowl, and more than once the soldiers roused up deer from the thickets.
The second day after the talk of the four in the little church Dick, who was now regarded as a most efficient and trusty young staff officer, was sent with a dispatch to General Buell requesting him to press forward with as much speed as he could to the junction with General Grant.
Several other aides were sent by different routes, in order to make sure that at least one would arrive, but Dick, through his former ride with Colonel Winchester to Nashville, had the most knowledge of the country, and hence was likely to reach Buell first.
As the boy rode from the camp and crossed the river into the forest he looked back, and he could not fail to notice to what an extent it was yet a citizen army, and not one of trained soldiers.

The veteran sergeant had already called his attention to what he deemed grave omissions.