This was a very happy thought; one for
which the quartermaster-general deserved the brevet he afterwards
got.
You will see by this, my son, that we were fast getting our gallant
defenders to the front. And now all that was needed to afford them
an opportunity to show themselves heroes was General Early and his
army of rebels.
I must also inform you that Provost-Marshal Todd, Captain and A. D.
C., had got a company of his men to the front, lying in ambush for
the rebels.
There was still another, and equally important force to be added to
our defenders. This was a brigade of what was called Ancient
Mariners, got together by that solid old salt, Admiral Goldsborough.
The admiral was brim-full of pluck, and his name had become famous
for not fighting the rebels afloat. Here was an opportunity to give
them a broadside or two ashore, and the admiral was not the man to
let it slip through his fingers. Indeed, he sounded his war trumpet
as quick as any of them, and when he had piped his Ancient Mariners
to arms, he told them that God and their country demanded them to do
their duty.
"Aye, aye!" responded the Ancient Mariners; "we will do it, we
will.
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