The troops will be along within an hour." "We are not to return south, then ?" "No; you're going in the other direction--up the Rock.

You better get busy." He wheeled his horse and disappeared, leaving the angry captain venting his displeasure on the vacant air.

Kirby, evidently from some position across the deck, broke in with a sharp question.
"What was that, Corcoran?
Did the fellow say you were not going back to St.Louis ?" "That's just what he said.

Damn this being under military orders.
We've got to nose our way up Rock River, with a lot of those measly soldiers aboard.

It's simply hell.