"I will take care of this man." My commander was much pleased with my report, which proved to be extremely accurate and valuable.

The disguise he had failed to penetrate did not deceive my comrades of the Ninth Kansas, and when I passed them they all called me by name and asked me where I had been.
But my news was for my superior officers, and I did not need the warning Colonel Herrick gave me to keep my mouth shut while among the soldiers.
General Smith, to whom I later made a full detailed report, had spoken highly of my work to Colonel Herrick, who was gratified to know that his choice of a scout had been justified by results.
It was not long before the whole command knew of my return, but beyond the fact that I had been on a scouting expedition, and had brought back information much desired by the commander, they knew nothing of my journey.

The next morning, still riding the same mare and still wearing my Tennessee clothes, I rode out with the entire command in the direction of Forrest's army.
Before I had traveled five miles I had been pointed out to the entire command, and cheers greeted me on every side.

As soon as an opportunity offered I got word with the general and asked if he had any further special orders for me.
"Just keep around," he said; "I may need you later on." "But I am a scout," I told him, "and the place for a scout is ahead of the army, getting information." "Go ahead," he replied, "and if you see anything that I ought to know about come back and tell me." Delighted to be a scout once more, I made my way forward.

The general had given orders that I was to be allowed to pass in and out the lines at will, so that I was no longer hampered by the activities of my own friends.