It was somewhere in that direction Beauregard's troops were encamped, yet, even if they were already advancing to unite with Johnston, they would hardly cross the country so far to the north.

Knowing the situation as I did I felt little fear of any encounter with Confederates.

Our cavalry were patrolling all the roads across the river, and, as late as the previous day, were guarding the Jonesboro bridge.

I could see no signs of any such guard now, however, yet the trees were thick and obscured the view, and that heavy dust cloud to the right was probably caused by the passing of a troop of horse.

Convinced that this would prove to be either a cavalry vidette, or a Federal foraging party, it made me more anxious to get quickly down into the town, hopeful they might have a spare horse with them, and I pointed out the dust spirals to my companion.
"If you have friends in Jonesboro," I said, "I've also got some coming." "Who are they ?" her eyes on the distant dust.