Some of these individuals were exceedingly credulous, while others were liars of the highest grade known to civilization.

The former obtained their information from the frightened inhabitants; the latter manufactured theirs with the aid of vivid imaginations.

I half suspect the fellows were like the showman in the story, and, at length, religiously believed what they first designed as a hoax.

Between the two classes of scouts a large army of Rebels was created.
The scouting service often develops characters of a peculiar mould.
Nearly every man engaged in it has some particular branch in which he excels.

There was one young man accompanying General Fremont's army, whose equal, as a special forager, I have never seen elsewhere.
Whenever we entered camp, this individual, whom I will call the captain, would take a half-dozen companions and start on a foraging tour.