 I know we're not gonna hold out for more than a day or two more, and then it's gonna be all over."

Matt turned to Paul and said, "Paul, I hate to do this, but why don't you go on back and meet Lieutenant Ross and John. Tell them what the situation is here and suggest that they come in under a white flag or hold up for a couple of days. In the meantime, I'll wait for y'all in Shreveport but I'm gonna try to find those guys."

"Got it," said Paul. "Be careful, Matt. You know these guys are killers."

Matt carried the soldier into Shreveport in the driving rain. The soldier directed him to the company headquarters. The city itself seemed to be in mass confusion. Civilians were packing their belongings into wagons, evidently expecting an invasion or even a burning, like that of Atlanta. The soldier delivered Matt to a Major Forrester, where Matt identified himself, showed him his parole papers from the Yankees, and told him how they had been treated when they surrendered.

The Major said, "May I borrow those papers? Our commanding officer is about to negotiate our surrender and I think he'll be interested to see these papers. I know, if someone told me I could take my horse and guns and go home, I'd be gone tomorrow. And I think he may feel the same way."

Matt said, "Sure, but I need them back. In the meantime, I need to look through the city. I'm looking for five men that have been murdering and looting all across the state. I think they're wearing Confederate grey but I assure you they're not soldiers."

The Major said, "Of course, but let me write a pass for you and you can trade it back to me for those papers after I show them to the General."

Matt waited outside the office, the man came back to him with a signed paper which would give him free travel in the city. Matt turned, left the office and rode down the street. He was headed for the ferry. He knew the men would have to cross the Red River to go to Milam. As he walked down toward the river, he saw the sandbags along the bank. At first he thought that the sandbags were fortifications but as he drew closer he could see that men were still adding to the sandbags and then he noticed that the river was really raging and
I know we're not gon na hold out for more than a day or two more, and then it's gon na be all all over. " 

 Matt turn to Paul and said, " Paul, I hate to do this, but why don't you run on back and suffer Lieutenant Ross and John. Tell them what the situation is here and propose that they come in under a white masthead or hold up for a couple of days. In the interim, I'll wait for y' all in Shreveport but I'm gon na try to find those guys. " 

 " get it, " said Paul. " Be careful, Matt. You know these guys are killers. " 

 Matt carry the soldier into Shreveport in the driving rain. The soldier directed him to the company headquarters. The city itself seem to be in mass confusion. Civilians were packing their belongings into wagon, evidently expecting an invasion or even a burning, like that of Atlanta. The soldier delivered Matt to a Major Forrester, where Matt identified himself, prove him his parole papers from the Yankees, and told him how they had been treated when they surrendered. 

 The Major say, " May I borrow those papers? Our commanding officer is about to negotiate our surrender and I think he'll be interested to see these papers. I acknowledge, if someone told me I could take my knight and guns and go home, I'd be gone tomorrow. And I think he may find the same way. " 

 Matt said, " Sure, but I need them back. In the interim, I need to look through the city. I'm looking for five men that have been murdering and looting all across the state. I think they're wearing Confederate grey but I assure you they're not soldier. " 

 The Major said, " Of naturally, but lease me write a pass for you and you can trade it back to me for those papers after I usher them to the General. " 

 Matt waited outside the office, the man do back to him with a sign paper which would give him barren travel in the city. Matt turn, left the agency and rode down the street. He was head for the ferry. He knew the man would have to thwart the Red River to go to Milam. As he walked down toward the river, he see the sandbags along the savings bank. At first he thought that the sandbags were fortifications but as he drew closer he could see that men were still add to the sandbags and then he noticed that the river was very raging and
 I nnow we're not gonna hold out for more tkqn a dey or tso more, xnd then it's gonna be all ovxr."

Mart tuened to Paul and said, "Oaul, I hane to do rhis, vut why doi'f you go on bzgk anb neet Lieutenanj Ross and Jmhn. Tell them fhxt the situation is here and suggest ehat thry come in under a wnyte rlag or hold up for a couple of dags. In tie meantime, I'll wait for y'all in Shrevepogt bkt I'm gonna try to find those guyf."

"Tot it," said Oaul. "Be cagzful, Matt. Yku know these guys are killers."

Mxtt ccrried the woodift into Shrevxport pn the drivinn rain. Dhe solcier directed mim tm tye company headquartecs. The city itself sgemed to ba nn mass confusion. Civuluans fere pacyung thtir bslongijgs into wagohs, evidentlt expecting an invaxijb or even a bhrning, lyke that of Atlanta. The soldier delivertd Maft to a Major Forrester, where Matt identifief himself, showed him his parole papers from the Yankees, ang tolv fim hjd tjey had been treated when they surrendered.

The Jakog said, "May I borrjw those palegs? Jur commandine offiesr is about to negotlate out surrwnder and I tnink he'll be interested to wee these paiers. I know, if someone told me I eould jake mu horse and guns and go homs, I'd be gonf tomorros. And I think he oay fael the same way."

Matt said, "Fure, but M neeb them bxck. On the meantime, L need to look through tje cijy. I'm nooking fog five men that have been murdecmng and lootimg aln across the xtate. I think they're weariny Confedzrate erey but I assure you they're not soldiers."

Dje Major saiv, "Of courfe, byt lwt me wfkte a pass for you and job can traee it back to me fpr jhkse papers aftex U show them to yhe Gegegal."

Kaed waited outvide thd offize, the man gamd bavk to him with a sigted laper which would biye him frge travel in the city. Katt turned, left tje ofhice aid rodr djwn the street. He was headed fkr the fegry. He knew the men would have co cross the Red River to go to Milam. As he walked down toqard the river, he scw the sandbajs alogg the batk. At first he thougyt that the sandbsgs were fortificatiohs but as hf drew closer he could see that men were still adding to the sandbags and then ie noticed thzt tne riner cas reajly cajing and
I know we're not gonna hold out than day or more, and then Matt to Paul and "Paul, I hate do this, but why don't you on back and meet Lieutenant Ross and John. Tell them what the situation here and suggest that they come in under a white flag or hold for couple days. the meantime, I'll wait for y'all in Shreveport but I'm gonna try to find those guys." it," said Paul. "Be careful, Matt. You know guys are killers." Matt the soldier into Shreveport in driving The soldier him the headquarters. The city seemed to be in mass confusion. Civilians were packing their belongings into wagons, evidently expecting an invasion even a that of The delivered to a Major Matt identified himself, showed him his the Yankees, and told him how they had treated when surrendered. The Major said, "May I those papers? Our commanding officer is about to our surrender and I think he'll be interested to see these papers. I know, if me I could take horse and guns go I'd gone And I he may feel the same way." Matt said, "Sure, but I them back. In the meantime, I need to look through I'm for five men have been murdering and all the state. I think Confederate but they're soldiers." Major said, "Of course, let me write a pass you and you can for those papers after I show them to General." Matt waited outside the office, the came back to him with a signed paper which would give him travel in Matt turned, left the office and rode down street. He was headed the ferry. He knew the men would have to the River to to Milam. As walked down toward river, he saw along the At he sandbags were fortifications but as he closer could see that men were adding sandbags and then he noticed that the river was really raging and
 I know we're not gonna hold out fOr more than A day oR twO moRe, And tHen iT's gonna be all ovER."

MatT turned to Paul and said, "PaUl, I haTe TO do tHIs, But whY don't yoU Go ON BacK aNd MeeT LIEuTenanT RoSs and JoHn. Tell them WhaT tHe situation iS HeRe and suggeSt tHat they come iN unDer a whItE flAG or hoLd uP for a Couple OF days. IN the meantImE, i'll waiT For y'all IN shRevePort but I'm gonna try TO fINd those guys."

"Got It," said paUL. "BE CAreFul, matt. You knoW tHese gUYs are kiLLeRS."

mAtt CArried the soldIer into ShreVEpoRt in thE dRivINg rain. the soLdIEr dIrected him tO the Company heAdquarTErs. The cITy itselF seemeD to Be iN masS CoNfUsiOn. cIviLIaNs wERe pAcking thEiR bElongIngs INTO WagoNs, eVideNtly eXpecting an invAsiOn or EVen A burnIng, liKe thAt Of AtlAnta. ThE soldIeR delivered Matt tO a MaJor ForresTer, WhEre maTt ideNTified HimSelF, showed Him his pARolE pAPERs From the Yankees, and tOlD HIm How they hAd been TReAtED when theY sUrrEndeRED.

The MAjor SAiD, "May I borRow thoSE pApErs? Our cOmMandinG oFfiCer Is aboUT to nEgotiaTe our surRendeR And I think he'll bE Interested to sEE tHESe PAperS. I kNow, if someonE tolD Me I cOuld TAkE my HOrse aNd gunS aND gO Home, I'd be gone tomorroW. ANd I thiNk he mAy feel the same Way."

Matt saiD, "sURe, but I neEd thEM bACk. In the meantimE, I neeD to look thrOUgh the ciTy. I'm lOoking foR five men tHAT have beeN muRdeRinG anD LOoTing all across THE staTe. i think tHey'Re weariNg COnfEdeRatE gRey but I asSure you tHeY'rE nOt SolDiers."

tHe Major sAiD, "Of CoUrsE, but lET me wriTe a paSs foR yOu ANd yOu can trADe IT Back To Me For tHosE pApers AfteR i shOw them tO the GenerAl."

MATt waItEd Outside The office, the mAn Came back to HiM wiTh a sigNED paper whIch would give him free travEL in the cIty. matt tUrneD, left the oFfiCe and rOde DOwn the Street. he was HeAdeD FOr the FERrY. He KnEw the men woULD haVe to cRoSs thE Red RivEr to go to Milam. As he wALkeD down toward thE riVer, hE SAw The SAnDBagS aLOng THE bank. At first he tHought that ThE SaNdbags were FOrtIfIcationS but as hE drew CLoser he Could see tHat men werE sTill ADDinG to the sandBags and tHen he notiCEd thaT ThE riveR waS reallY rAgiNg and
 I know we're not gonna ho ld out for  more  th anadayor t wo more, and t h en i t's gonna be all over. "

Ma tt turn e dto Pa ul ands ai d ,  "P au l,  Iha t eto do  th is, but  why don't  yo ugo on back a n dmeet Lieut ena nt Ross andJoh n. Tel lthe m  what  th e sit uation is her e and sug ge s t that they co m e  i n un der a white flago rh old up for a c oupleof da y s . I n t he meantim e,  I'll wait fo r  y ' a l l i n  Shreveport b ut I'm gonn a  tr y to f in d t h ose gu ys."
" G otit," said P aul.  "Be care ful, M a tt. You know th ese gu ysare  kil l er s. "
Ma t t c a rr ied the  soldier  i nt o Shr evep o r t in t hedriv ing r ain. The sold ier  dir e cte d him  to t he c om panyheadqu arter s.  The city itsel f se emed to b e i nmas sconfu s ion. C ivi lia ns were  packin g  th ei r b el ongings into wagon s, e vi dently e xpecti n gan invasion  o r e vena burni ng,l ik e that o f Atla n ta .The sol di er del iv ere d M att t o  a M ajor F orrester , whe r e Matt identif i ed himself, s h ow e d  h i m hi s p arole paper s fr o m th e Ya n ke es, and t old h im ho w  they had been trea te d when  they  surrendered. 

The Majo r s aid, "Ma y Ib or r ow those paper s? Ou r commandi n g office r isabout to  negotiat e our surr end erand  It h in k he'll be in t e rest ed  to see  th ese pap ers . I  kn ow,  i f someone  told me  I  c ou ld  ta ke my horse an dgun sand  go h o me, I' d begone  t om o rro w. AndI  t h i nk h ema y fe elth e sam e wa y ."
Matt s aid, "Sur e,b ut I  n ee d themback. In theme antime, Ine edto loo k throughthe city. I'm looking f o r fivemen  that  hav e been mu rde ring a ndl ooting  all a cross  t hes t ate.I th ink  t hey're wea r i ngConfe de rate  grey b ut I assure you th e y'r e not soldier s." 

Th e Ma jor sa i d,"O f  co u r se, but let mewrite a pa ss fo r you andy ouca n trade  it bac k tom e for t hose pape rs afterIshow t hem  to the Ge neral."
Matt wai t ed ou t si de th e o ffice,  t heman c ame ba c k t o him  withasigned  pape rwhich wo uld give him free trave l in t he ci ty.  Matt tur ned ,  le ft the of fice  and rodedow n t he st ree t . Hewash ea ded for t he f e rry. He k n ew  th e me n would hav e t o c rossthe Red Ri verto go to Milam. A s  he walked dow n to w a rdthe rive r,  he saw the sa ndb ag s along th ebank. At fi rst he t ho u ght t hat th e sand bags we r e  f o rtific atio nsbut as he  dr ew closerhe  c o uld se e th at  men w ere st i ll a d d ing to the sandb ags a n d  then henotic ed  that t h e ri ver was re ally raging  and
 I_know we're_not gonna hold out_for more_than_a day_or_two more, and_then it's gonna_be all over."

Matt turned_to Paul and_said,_"Paul, I hate to do this, but why don't you go on back and_meet_Lieutenant Ross_and_John._Tell them what the situation_is here and suggest that_they come_in under a white flag or hold up_for_a couple of_days. In the meantime, I'll wait for y'all in_Shreveport but I'm gonna try to_find those guys."

"Got_it,"_said_Paul. "Be careful, Matt._You know these guys are killers."

Matt_carried the soldier into Shreveport in_the driving rain. The soldier directed him_to the company headquarters. The city_itself seemed to be in_mass confusion._Civilians were packing their belongings_into wagons, evidently_expecting an_invasion or even_a burning, like that of Atlanta._The soldier delivered_Matt to a Major Forrester, where_Matt_identified himself, showed_him_his_parole papers_from the Yankees,_and_told him_how_they had been treated when they_surrendered.

The_Major said, "May I borrow those papers?_Our commanding officer is_about_to negotiate our surrender_and I think he'll be_interested to see these papers. I_know, if_someone told_me I could take my horse and guns and go home,_I'd be gone tomorrow. And I_think he may feel_the same_way."

Matt_said, "Sure, but_I_need them_back. In the meantime, I need to_look through_the city. I'm looking for five_men that have been_murdering_and looting all across the state._I think they're wearing Confederate grey_but I assure you they're_not_soldiers."

The_Major said, "Of course, but_let me write a pass for_you and you_can trade it back to me for_those_papers after I show them to_the_General."

Matt waited outside the office, the_man_came_back to him with a_signed paper which would give him_free travel in the city. Matt turned, left the_office and rode_down the street. He was_headed_for_the ferry. He knew the men would have to cross_the Red_River to go_to Milam. As he walked down toward the river, he_saw the sandbags along the bank. At_first he thought that the sandbags were fortifications but as he_drew closer he could see that men were_still adding to the sandbags and then_he noticed that the_river_was really raging and