The passengers going ashore waded ankle deep the moment they stepped off the plank, and rushes and dried grass had been thrown on the ground to protect the cargo.

Only three log houses were visible, miserable shacks, one of them a saloon, evidently doing a thriving business.

In most cases it was impossible to distinguish the civilian inhabitants from their soldier guests.

Reynolds' troops, all militia, and the greater part of them mounted, were an extremely sorry-looking lot--sturdy enough physically, of the pioneer type, but bearing little soldierly appearance, and utterly ignorant of discipline.

They had been hastily gathered together at Beardstown, and, without drill, marched across country to this spot.