A word to the sentinel, and we faced the group above.

One, a sharp-featured man, with very dark complexion, rose to his feet.
"What is it, Kent ?" "This is Lieutenant Galesworth, of the Ninth Illinois Cavalry.

The general will wish to see him at once." The dark-featured man glanced at me, and turned back into the house, and Kent introduced me to the others, none of whom I recognized.

This was not Sheridan's staff, but before I could question any of them, the messenger returned, and motioned for me to follow.

It was a large room, low-ceilinged, with three windows, the walls of bare logs whitewashed, the floor freshly swept, the only furniture a table and a few chairs.
But two men were present, although a sentinel stood motionless at the door,--a broad-shouldered colonel of engineers, with gray moustache and wearing glasses, sitting at a table littered with papers, and a short stocky man, attired in a simple blue blouse, with no insignia of rank visible, his back toward me, gazing out of a window.