Chapter II: Preface

"In The Saddle" is the second of the "Blue and Gray--On Land." In the first volume a New Hampshire family was transplanted to the southern part of one of the Border States just before the breaking out of the Great Rebellion, now happily an event of the somewhat distant past. An attempt is made in that book to describe the condition of the region in the progress of the story; and the material for it was diligently looked up in the records of those stormy times, in those of official character in the archives of the State in which the events transpired, as well as in "The Record of the Rebellion," Congressional Reports, and the multitude of histories, narratives, biographies, and miscellaneous works on the shelves of public and private libraries. The writer believes his material statements are correct, and that the pictures he has given of the disorderly condition of the State of Kentucky, especially in the southern portion, are not overdrawn.

The story of the Lyon family introduces two branches of it, both from the same Northern locality, though, unhappily, not of the same way of thinking on the great question of loyalty to the national government and Secession with the South. Plantation life and manners are presented to some extent, as one of the brothers comes into possession of a large estate and half a hundred slaves by the will of a Kentucky member of the Lyon family. The first volume of the series is devoted to the "bringing out" of the loyal element in the county where the plantation is located, in opposition to the more demonstrative secession or neutral sentiment. A Union meeting in a schoolhouse, disturbed by the "ruffians," as they had come to be called, in which the loyal citizens vigorously defend themselves, and expel the intruders, brings the affairs of the neighborhood to a crisis. The planter is attacked by a mob, and with the assistance of a few of his friends, and by arming a portion of his negroes, successfully encounters the disturbers of the peace. Following these stirring events, two companies of cavalry are enlisted by an authorized officer, carefully drilled, and put in readiness to take the field.

In the present volume this battalion enters upon active service. The same characters are presented in the uniform of cavalrymen, mounted on the fine equine stock of the plantation. Noah Lyon, the head of the family, obtains an actual military title, instead of the merely complimentary one given to him by his friends and neighbors. His two sons, Deck and Artie, appear in the front rank in the operations in which the squadron is engaged, though both of them enter the service as privates. The young men are of the loftiest moral character, actuated by the purest and most devoted patriotism. They are of good physique, in vigorous health, and do not seem to know the meaning of the word fear. If their individual exploits seem to any to be extravagant, they have been more than paralleled on the battle-field in hundreds of instances. Both of them are exceedingly fond of their steeds; and Deck, in the months devoted to drill, makes no insignificant figure as a horse-trainer. His steed, one of the blood stock of his deceased uncle, is so intelligent and so apt a scholar, that he enables his rider to achieve some rather wonderful feats in action. He is modest, and, when praised for his deeds, attributes them to "Ceph." This young soldier wins and obtains a promotion which will supply the title for the next volume.

In contrast with the progressive fortunes of the loyal brother and his two sons, the disloyal one, who had become, through the influence of his money rather than his ability, the leader of the "ruffians," is again introduced, with his two boys, who follow in the footsteps of their father till they become disgusted with their lot.

The operations of the loyal battalion of cavalry are confined to the protection of the bridges on the railroads, and to repressing "partisan" onslaughts and outrages upon towns and villages largely inhabited by citizens who are faithful to the national government. But the officers and privates are faithful where loyalty meant vastly more than in the North; and their zeal and earnestness in the discharge of their duty left a stirring record behind them wherever they went.

WILLIAM T. ADAMS.

DORCHESTER, Dec. 12, 1894.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I. PAGE
COLLECTING A BILL BY FORCE OF ARMS 15

CHAPTER II.
REVELATIONS OF A YOUNG GUARDSMAN 27

CHAPTER III.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE LYON FAMILIES 39

CHAPTER IV.
THE DAY'S MARCH OF THE SQUADRON 52

CHAPTER V.
THE LEADER OF THE SCOUTING-PARTY 64

CHAPTER VI.
A VERY OBSTINATE PRISONER CAPTURED 76

CHAPTER VII.
PREPARING FOR ACTIVE OPERATIONS 88

CHAPTER VIII.
THE ACTION BY THE RAILROAD BRIDGE 100

CHAPTER IX.
AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE ENEMY'S SCOUTS 112

CHAPTER X.
THE BATTLE BEGUN AT THE CROSS-ROADS 124

CHAPTER XI.
A DESPERATE CHARGE ON BOTH SIDES 137

CHAPTER XII.
THE YOUNG HERO OF THE BATTLE 149

CHAPTER XIII.
THE PERPLEXING MOVEMENTS OF THE ENEMY 161

CHAPTER XIV.
A LONG WAIT FOR THE ENEMY 173

CHAPTER XV.
THE AMERICAN FLAG ON THE BRIDGE 185

CHAPTER XVI.
THE EXPLOSION ON THE BRIDGE 197

CHAPTER XVII.
THE CONFUSION OF THE DAY EXPLAINED 209

CHAPTER XVIII.
INTRODUCING MR. BROWN KIPPS 221

CHAPTER XIX.
THE CONSPIRACY ON THE BRIDGE 234

CHAPTER XX.
THE OPERATIONS OF THE BRIDGE-BURNERS 246

CHAPTER XXI.
A NEW DISPOSITION OF THE FORCES 258

CHAPTER XXII.
A DESPERATE DEED CONTEMPLATED 270

CHAPTER XXIII.
THE SKIRMISH ON THE HILL ROAD 282

CHAPTER XXIV.
CAPTAIN DINGFIELD'S STRATEGY 294

CHAPTER XXV.
SUNDRY FLANK MOVEMENTS ARRANGED 306

CHAPTER XXVI.
THE ENEMY'S BATTLE WITH THE MUD 318

CHAPTER XXVII.
AT THE CAMP-FIRE NEAR THE ROAD 330

CHAPTER XXVIII.
A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE 342

CHAPTER XXIX.
THE RIVERLAWN CAVALRY CHANGES BASE 354

CHAPTER XXX.
THE MAGNATE OF GREELTOP'S VISIT 366

CHAPTER XXXI.
LIFE KNOX ON THE MOUNTAIN ROAD 378

CHAPTER XXXII.
THE SKIRMISH IN THE GREAT CIRCLE 390

CHAPTER XXXIII.
CAPTAIN STINGER THE FIRE-EATER 402

CHAPTER XXXIV.
THE RE-ENFORCEMENT FOR PLAIN HILL 414

CHAPTER XXXV.
SURROUNDED AND TOTALLY DEFEATED 426

CHAPTER XXXVI.
CAPTAIN VINEGOLD OF THE GUERILLAS 439

ILLUSTRATIONS.

"BE YOU UNS SOLDIERS, MASS'R?" _Frontispiece._

ILLUSTRATED TITLE.
PAGE
"HELP! HELP! SHOUTED THE VICTIM" 18

"ONE OF THE TEXANS TUMBLED FROM HIS HORSE" 123

"SLING CARBINES! CHARGE THEM!" 207

"HALT WHERE YOU ARE, KIPPS!" 282

"WHAT ARE YOU UNS DOING HERE?" 317

"THE RUFFIAN SEEMED TO BE AS POWERLESS AS
AN INFANT IN HIS GRASP" 383

IN THE SADDLE