CHAPTER II. - HAND TO HAND .

Meanwhile the scout, Cavalry Curt, whom Captain Morland had been accused of assisting in escaping from the Confederates arrived at McPherson's camp to give him the important tidings that Johnston had learned of Sherman's real designs and was acting accordingly.

So McPherson found himself unable to carry out the plan of his superior with any assurance of success.

True he might march upon Resaca, but warned as he had been of his enemy's intentions he had so re-enforced that place that its capture by him was exceedingly doubtful.

Worse even than that he began to realize that unable to get upon the railroad either above or below Resaca, thus to turn the Confederates' flank, his own was in danger!

Should Johnston conclude to abandon, as he must sooner or later, his position at Dalton, to appear upon the roads he had cut to the south, McPherson's brigade would be in most imminent peril.

Too acute to be caught in such a trap that officer decided at once to fall back to Snake Creek and entrenching himself there await Sherman’s orders.

Without realizing fully the great danger hovering over the home of his sweetheart, Mara Morland, Cavalry Curt decided to remain with McPherson, confidently expecting to see some striking scenes.

Finding it of no avail to continue the attack on Rocky Face Ridge any longer, on the 10th Sherman ordered his whole army to join McPherson, excepting Howard's corps and a small body which were to be in readiness to march upon Dalton in case Johnston should vacate the place as the Northern commander anticipated.

The following day, as Sherman had foreseen, witnessed the departure of the Confederates from their mountain fortress, Resaca becoming their objective point. Here, with Polk on his left, Har-dee in the center and Hood on his right, he grimly awaited Sherman's coming.

Nor had he long to wait for on the 13th Sherman's army was in the field ready for work.

McPherson had already encountered Loring's division, and after some sharp fighting driven that corp to Johnston's extreme left on the Oostanaula.

This river from Resaca runs southwesterly to Rome, where a branch of the main railroad connects that place with Kingston on the direct line from Atlanta to Adairsville, Calhoun, Resaca, where Johnston had now fortified himself.

Anticipating the Confederates intention of holding Resaca Sherman designed to break the railroad between Calhoun and Kingston—perhaps well down toward the latter place.

This he purposed to do with light and rapidly-moving columns while the main portion of his forces engaged the foe in front.

This difficult undertaking was assigned to Girard's division of cavalry.

Curtis Remington, " Cavalry Curt," to his satisfaction, was given command of a body of cavalry belonging to McPherson's brigade and to which he had formerly been connected.

Sherman on the 14th attacked Johnston at all parts of his entrenchment, Schofield in charge of the right flank, Thomas in the center and the gallant McPherson's division, with whom our interest more particularly belong, to the right.

Boldly pushing across Camp Creek "brave Mac" hurled his infantry against Polk, entrenched upon a height commanding the river.

Leading this van on the right was Remington's cavalry, and of all those war-scared troops none fought more nobly than they.

Twice was their chief unhorsed, and each time he reappeared smoke-be-grimed but undaunted.

Toward night while the Confederate commander was reeling from the sledgehammer blows dealt at his breastworks by McPherson's center, the cavalry was went to cut off the enemy's retreat to the river.

Sweeping down a line of growth reaching westward they met the foe at the foot of the hill.

"Forward—charge!" thundered Cavalry Curt—Captain Remington—waving his sword in the air.

'Mid the fierce cannonade above they plunged into battle, the two fronts meeting with a shock that sent them reeling back!

Captain Remington's' horse was shot under him—the third that day—and for a moment it seemed that the tide of battle had overwhelmed his sturdy troops.

Foremost at this instant appeared in the Confederate van a tall, gigantic figure, bleeding from wounds, yet conscious of the advantage awaiting a swift pass at the lire.

" Into line, boys!" he cried as his keen vision swept the scene. Then as he flung back his tawny locks he shouted in a stentorian tone: "On, boys! the victory is ours?"

Cavalry Curt, as he sprang to his feet heard the words and recognized the voice.

Nor was he long inactive.

Once more in the saddle he led his followers into the jaws of battle.

In the midst of the fray, where the strife waxed the hottest, the leaders met —hand to hand—Cavalry Curt and Brick Logan.