lered to Angeline to stay in the house and picked up his old rifle, and waited.

The men kept coming but Laffere became even more anxious as he noticed the men were spreading out in a skirmish line. As they approached, he yelled, "Okay boys, that's far enough. What are you men after?"

The big man in the center laughed, but it was a mean laugh. He said, "What are we after? Well, I'll tell you, old man. We are after just about everything you got." As the man finished speaking he drew his revolver out and before Lafferre could respond, the man shot him in the chest.

Chapter One

May, 1865. Somewhere in Tennessee. Confederate States of America Cavalry Captain Matthew Dixon is a big man, thin from living on scant rations for a long time, but still an imposing figure. When he rose up in the saddle with his arm lifted, the men in the column of two's behind him pulled in their horses immediately. First Sergeant John Combs also raised his arm to signal the men behind him to stop.

Sergeant Combs pulled up beside the Captain and spoke, "What's the matter, Captain?"

Dixon pointed ahead down the road, "Can you see that dust boiling up and does it look like it's getting bigger to you, Sergeant?"

The Sergeant rose up on his horse and held his hand over his hat to better shade the sunlight from his eyes. "Yep, looks like a mounted force coming this way. Don't seem to be coming too hard, though, Captain. I guess we have to figure they're Yankees. We don't have any other cavalry in this area, least I haven't heard of any."

Captain Dixon looked back over his shoulder. He knew he had sixteen men mounted plus himself and Combs. They were all thin, some downright skinny, but they had proved over and over again that they would fight. These men were all that remained of his original company of ninety men. It had been a terrible war.

His voice was precise with command. "You take seven men and get in those trees to the right, and stay out of sight. I'll take the rest over to the left. If the unit coming toward us is a big unit, let them through. If they see you, take off and we'll rendezvous back at last night's camp. We'll do
lered to Angeline to stay in the house and picked up his old rifle, and expect. 

 The man kept coming but Laffere became even more anxious as he notice the men were spreading out in a skirmish tune. As they approach, he yelled, " all right son, that's far enough. What are you men after? " 

 The adult man in the center laugh, but it was a mean laugh. He said, " What are we after? Well, I'll tell you, old man. We are after just about everything you get. " As the man finished speaking he draw his revolver out and before Lafferre could respond, the man shot him in the thorax. 

 Chapter One 

 May, 1865. Somewhere in Tennessee. Confederate States of America Cavalry Captain Matthew Dixon is a big man, thin from living on light rations for a long time, but still an imposing figure. When he wax up in the saddle with his arm lifted, the men in the column of two's behind him pulled in their horses immediately. First Sergeant John Combs also raised his weapon to signal the men behind him to hold on. 

 Sergeant Combs pulled up beside the Captain and spoke, " What's the matter, Captain? " 

 Dixon pointed ahead down the road, " Can you determine that dust boiling up and does it look like it's getting boastful to you, Sergeant? " 

 The Sergeant rose up on his horse and held his hand over his hat to better shade the sunlight from his eye. " Yep, looks like a mounted force coming this way. Don't seem to be come too hard, though, Captain. I guess we have to figure they're Yankees. We don't accept any other cavalry in this area, least I haven't heard of any. " 

 Captain Dixon look back over his shoulder. He know he had sixteen men mount plus himself and Combs. They were all thin, some downright tight-fitting, but they had proved over and all over again that they would fight. These men were all that remained of his original company of ninety man. It had been a terrible war. 

 His part was precise with command. " You assume seven men and grow in those trees to the right field, and stay out of sight. I'll take the rest over to the left field. If the unit coming toward us is a big unit, permit them through. If they see you, take off and we'll rendezvous back at last night's camp. We'll do
lerfd to Angeline to stay ik the house and kixked u' his omd rifle, and waited.

The men kept comiig byt Ladfere became even more anxious ws he noricev the men were s'deading out ih a snmrmish line. As jhey approacved, he yelled, "Mkxy boys, that's far enough. What are you men afyeg?"

The big man ig tht cqnted laughed, but it was a mean laugh. Ge said, "What are we sfter? Well, I'll tell you, olf maj. We are after jush about evetgthybg you got." Ar the man finished spezking he drew his revolver out xnd bzfore Laffetxw clold respond, vhe mag shot him ik the cvest.

Chalter One

May, 1865. Spmexherw in Tennessee. Confedxrate States of Ameryca Cavalsy Captain Matthew Eizon iv a tig oqn, ghih hroj livijg kn scant rztions for q long time, but stikl qn imposing fjgure. Rhqn he rose up in the saddle with his ark ljfted, the men in the cooumn of two's behind hlm pulled in their horses immediately. First Sergeant John Wombs xlsi vaisde jis arm to signal the men behind him to stop.

Sqdgtann Combs pulled up beside the Cwpywin and spoke, "What's ths matter, Captain?"

Didon poigted qhead dowg thr road, "Can you see that dusr boiling up qnd does it look lnke it's gettnng bibger yo you, Sergeant?"

The Sergzant rkse up on hls horse zvd held his hand ovvr hhs hat to better shade the sunlight frok his ehes. "Iep, loohs like a lountcg force coming thid way. Dmn't seem tl be coming too hard, though, Capvein. I guess wg hdve to figuxe then're Yankees. We qon't have any pther ccvalry in this agea, least I haven't hqard of any."

Ca[jain Dixon lomked bach ovwr hus shouuaer. He knew he had sixtveu men moubted plus himself end Zkmbs. They were cuo thin, some dowmrieht sniiny, btd they had psovea oxrr ana over agaik tfat yhey would fight. Theve msn were all that rrmwined of his oridinal company of ninety men. It jad bxen a verribke rar.

His voice was precise with dommand. "Ylu bake seven meg ane get in thoxe trees to the right, and stay out of smght. I'll take the rest iver to the left. If uhe unit comiig towwrd us is a big unit, let them through. If they xee you, take off and se'll randezgous back at last night's camp. We'll do
lered to Angeline to stay in the picked his old and waited. The became more anxious as noticed the men spreading out in a skirmish line. they approached, he yelled, "Okay boys, that's far enough. What are you men The big man in the center laughed, but it was a mean laugh. said, are after? I'll tell you, old man. We are after just about everything you got." As the man speaking he drew his revolver out and before could respond, the man him in the chest. Chapter May, Somewhere in Confederate of Cavalry Captain Matthew is a big man, thin from living on scant rations for a long time, but still an figure. When up in saddle his lifted, the men column of two's behind him pulled immediately. First Sergeant John Combs also raised his to signal men behind him to stop. Sergeant pulled up beside the Captain and spoke, "What's matter, Captain?" Dixon pointed ahead down the road, "Can you see that dust boiling up it look like it's bigger to you, The rose on horse and his hand over his hat to better shade the sunlight from eyes. "Yep, looks like a mounted force coming this way. to coming too hard, Captain. I guess we to they're Yankees. We don't other in I heard any." Captain Dixon looked over his shoulder. He knew had sixteen men mounted were all thin, some downright skinny, but they proved over and over again that they fight. These men were all that remained of his original company of men. It a terrible war. His voice was precise with "You take seven men get in those trees to the right, and stay of I'll take rest over to left. If the coming toward us big unit, them If take off and we'll rendezvous back last camp. We'll do
lered to Angeline to stay in thE house and pIcked Up hIs oLd RiflE, and Waited.

The men kePT comIng but Laffere became eveN more AnXIous AS hE notiCed the mEN wERE spReAdIng OuT In A skirMisH line. As They approaCheD, hE yelled, "Okay bOYs, That's far enOugH. What are you mEn aFter?"

ThE bIg mAN in thE ceNter lAughed, BUt it waS a mean lauGh. hE said, "WHAt are we AFTeR? WelL, I'll tell you, old man. wE aRE after just abouT everyThINg YOU goT." As The man finiShEd speAKing he dREw HIS RevOLver out and befOre Lafferre COulD respoNd, The MAn shot Him in ThE CheSt.

Chapter OnE

May, 1865. somewhere In TennESsee. ConFEderate states Of AMerIca CAVaLrY CaPtAIn MATtHew dIxoN is a big mAn, ThIn froM livING ON scaNt rAtioNs for A long time, but sTilL an iMPosIng fiGure. WHen hE rOse up In the sAddle WiTh his arm lifted, tHe meN in the colUmn Of Two'S bEhind HIm pullEd iN thEir horsEs immedIAteLy. fIRSt sergeant John Combs aLsO RAiSed his arM to sigNAl ThE Men behinD hIm tO stoP.

sErgeaNt CoMBs Pulled up Beside THe caPtain anD sPoke, "WhAt'S thE maTter, CAPtaiN?"

Dixon Pointed aHead dOWn the road, "Can yoU See that dust boILiNG Up ANd doEs iT look like it'S getTIng bIggeR To You, sErgeaNt?"

The seRGeANt rose up on his horse aNd Held hiS hand Over his hat to bEtter shade THE Sunlight From HIs EYes. "Yep, looks likE a mouNted force cOMing this Way. DoN't seem to Be coming tOO Hard, thouGh, CAptAin. i guESS wE have to figure THEy're yaNkees. We Don'T have anY otHer CavAlrY iN this area, Least I haVeN't HeArD of Any."

CaPTain DixoN lOokEd BacK over HIs shouLder. HE kneW hE hAD siXteen meN MoUNTed pLuS hImseLf aNd combs. they WEre All thin, Some downrIghT SkinNy, BuT they haD proved over anD oVer again thAt TheY would FIGht. These Men were all that remained oF His origInaL compAny oF ninety meN. It Had beeN a tERrible War.

His Voice WaS prECIse wiTH CoMmaNd. "you take sevEN Men And geT iN thoSe trees To the right, and stay oUT of Sight. I'll take tHe rEst oVER tO thE LeFT. If ThE UniT COming toward us is A big unit, leT tHEm Through. If tHEy sEe You, take Off and wE'll reNDezvous Back at lasT night's caMp. we'll DO
lered to Angeline to stayin the hou se an d p ick ed  uphisold rifle, and wait ed.

The men kept comi ng bu tL affe r ebecam e evenm or e anx io us  as  h e  n otice d t he menwere sprea din gout in a ski r mi sh line. A s t hey approach ed,  he ye ll ed, "Okay  bo ys, t hat'sf ar eno ugh. What  a r e youm en afte r ? "
The  big man in the c e nt e r laughed, but  it wa sa  m e a n l aug h. He said ,"What are wea ft e r ?  We l l, I'll tellyou, old ma n . W e areaf ter just a boutev e ryt hing you go t."As the ma n fini s hed spe a king he  drewhis  re volv e rou t a nd bef o re  La f fer re could  r es pond,  the m a n  sho t h im i n the  chest.

Chap ter  One 
Ma y, 18 65. S omew he re in  Tenne ssee.  C onfederate Stat es o f America  Ca va lry  C aptai n  Matth ewDix on is a  big ma n , t hi n f ro m living on scantra t i on s for along t i me ,b ut still  a n i mpos i n g fig ure. Wh en he ro se upi nth e saddl ewith h is  ar m l ifted ,  the  men i n the co lumno f two's behind him pulled in th e i rh orse s i mmediately.  Fir s t Se rgea n tJoh n  Comb s als or ai s ed his arm to signa lthe me n beh ind him to st op.

Serge a n t  Combs p ulle d  u p  beside the Ca ptain  and spoke ,  "What's  thematter,Captain?" Dixon po int edahe add o wn  the road, "C a n  you  s ee that  du st boil ing  up  an d d oe s it look  like it 's  g et ti ngbigge r  to you,  S erg ea nt? "

Th e  Serge ant r oseup  o n  hi s horse an d held  h is  han d o ve r his  hat tobettershade the  su n ligh tfr om hiseyes. "Yep, l oo ks like amo unt ed for c e  comingthis way. Don't seem to be comi ngtoo h ard,  though,Cap tain.I g u ess we  haveto fi gu ret h ey're Y an kee s.  We don'th a veany o th er c avalryin this area, leas t  Ihaven't heard  of  any . " 
Cap t ai n  Di xo n  lo o k ed back over hi s shoulder .H eknew he ha d  si xt een men  mounte d plu s  himsel f and Com bs. Theywe re a l l  th in, some d ownright  skinny,b ut th e yhad p rov ed ove rand  over  again tha t the y woul dfight.  Thes emen were  all that remained of h is ori ginal  co mpany ofnin e tymen. It h ad b een a terr ibl e w ar.
His voice  was pr eci s e wit h co m mand. "Yo u  t ake s ev en men andg e t  in  thos e t r ees to  the  right, and stayo ut of sight. I 'llt a kethe rest  o ver to the lef t.If t he unitco ming toward  us is a  b i g uni t, let  themthrough . If they s ee y ou,  take off  an dw e'll re nd ez v ous ba ck a tlast n ight's camp . We'll do
lered to_Angeline to_stay in the house_and picked_up_his old_rifle,_and waited.

The men_kept coming but_Laffere became even more_anxious as he_noticed_the men were spreading out in a skirmish line. As they approached, he yelled,_"Okay_boys, that's_far_enough._What are you men after?"

The_big man in the center_laughed, but_it was a mean laugh. He said, "What_are_we after? Well,_I'll tell you, old man. We are after just_about everything you got." As the_man finished speaking_he_drew_his revolver out and_before Lafferre could respond, the man_shot him in the chest.

Chapter One

May,_1865. Somewhere in Tennessee. Confederate States of_America Cavalry Captain Matthew Dixon is_a big man, thin from_living on_scant rations for a long_time, but still_an imposing_figure. When he_rose up in the saddle with_his arm lifted,_the men in the column of_two's_behind him pulled_in_their_horses immediately._First Sergeant John_Combs_also raised_his_arm to signal the men behind_him_to stop.

Sergeant Combs pulled up beside the_Captain and spoke, "What's_the_matter, Captain?"

Dixon pointed ahead_down the road, "Can you_see that dust boiling up and_does it_look like_it's getting bigger to you, Sergeant?"

The Sergeant rose up on his_horse and held his hand over_his hat to better_shade the_sunlight_from his eyes._"Yep,_looks like_a mounted force coming this way. Don't_seem to_be coming too hard, though, Captain._I guess we have_to_figure they're Yankees. We don't have_any other cavalry in this area,_least I haven't heard of_any."

Captain_Dixon_looked back over his shoulder._He knew he had sixteen men_mounted plus himself_and Combs. They were all thin, some_downright_skinny, but they had proved over_and_over again that they would fight._These_men_were all that remained of_his original company of ninety men._It had been a terrible war.

His voice was precise_with command. "You_take seven men and get_in_those_trees to the right, and stay out of sight. I'll_take the_rest over to_the left. If the unit coming toward us is a_big unit, let them through. If they_see you, take off and we'll rendezvous back at last night's_camp. We'll do