 it was evident that the river level was way above normal and evidently still rising. He saw the ferry landing and knew that the ferry was used to connect Shreveport to the Texas Trail that people used to migrate to Texas. He had come across it in the other direction when he went off to war.

As he walked up to the river's edge he saw the ferry was tied securely next to the bank. He couldn't help but remember how naïve he had been when he first crossed the river thinking the south would whip the Yankees in a couple of battles and the war would be over. How wrong he was, he thought.

Matt saw a man checking the lines securing the ferry and walked up to him.

He said, "Water is sure coming up. I just came in from Springer and it has been pouring all up through there."

The man replied, "Yep, water got so high I had to shut the ferry down yesterday and it will be a few days before we can start again. At least that's what I think. When the Yankees take over in a day or two they might have a different feeling."

Matt said, "Did you take five men and their horses over yesterday?"

The man looked at him quickly and said, "Yeah, they were my last load. I really didn't want to go but they said they needed to get across before the Yankees came, and they paid a little extra. We made it okay but the trip back was exciting. I'm not taking it across until the water goes down."

Matt turned and started walking back to his horse. It looked like the men they were after would have a few days and there didn't seem to be much they could do about it. His next priority, he thought, would be getting John, Paul and Lieutenant Ross and his men in town without bloodshed. It would be terrible to have someone killed on the last day of the damned war. He walked to his horse, mounted and started riding back to the road to Springer. The Confederate sergeant and his men were still there but they were looking at him expectantly. He figured they were wondering if he had any news about the surrender.

He said, "Howdy Sergeant, I did talk to a major at your headquarters and he gave me a pass. Would you like to look at it?"

The Sergeant said, "No, I believe you, Captain, but have you heard anything about the surrender?"

"
it was evident that the river level was way above normal and evidently however rise. He saw the ferry landing and knew that the ferry was used to get in touch Shreveport to the Texas Trail that people used to migrate to Texas. He had fall across it in the early direction when he went off to war. 

 As he walked up to the river's edge he saw the ferry was tie securely next to the bank. He couldn't help but remember how naïve he had been when he first crossed the river thinking the confederacy would whip the Yankees in a couple of battles and the war would be over. How improper he was, he thought. 

 Matt saw a serviceman checking the lineage securing the ferry and walked up to him. 

 He said, " Water is sure derive up. I just came in from Springer and it has been pouring all up through there. " 

 The man answer, " Yep, body of water got so high I had to shut the ferry down yesterday and it will be a few days before we can start again. At least that's what I think. When the Yankees take over in a sidereal day or two they might suffer a different touch. " 

 Matt said, " Did you take five men and their horses over yesterday? " 

 The valet looked at him quickly and said, " Yeah, they were my last lode. I really didn't want to go but they said they needed to get across before the Yankees total, and they paid a little extra. We made it okay but the slip back was exciting. I'm not taking it across until the body of water goes down. " 

 Matt turned and started walking back to his horse. It look like the men they were after would have a few days and there didn't look to be much they could do about it. His next priority, he thought, would be get John, Paul and Lieutenant Ross and his men in township without bloodshed. It would be terrible to have someone killed on the last sidereal day of the damned war. He walked to his horse, mounted and start riding back to the road to Springer. The Confederate sergeant and his men were still there but they were looking at him expectantly. He calculate they were wondering if he have any news about the surrender. 

 He said, " Howdy Sergeant, I did talk to a major at your headquarters and he yield me a pass. Would you wish to look at it? " 

 The Sergeant said, " No, I believe you, Captain, but have you hear anything about the surrender? " 

 "
 it was evident that the riyer level was wai qbove iormal znd eviddntly still rising. He saw thx feery lqnding and knew that tfe ferry aas used to ronnect Shrevepocf to thc Texzd Trcio that people osed to migrdte to Texas. Ha fab come across it in the other directyon whem je went off to war.

Sf he walked up to the river's edge he szw the herry was tied xecurely next to the bank. Je cluldn't help but relember how baïve ye had been dhen he figvt crossed the river thinking the south wuuld chip the Yabkwes hn a couple of bwttles and tmv war wmuld be over. How wronn he xas, ye thought.

Matt saw a kan checking the lynes secusiug the ferry and walkwd up tm hik.

He rqid, "Wauer ia sure cojing up. I nust came ib from Springer and ie has been pouding ajl up through there."

The man replied, "Yep, wauer gkt so high I had to shur the ferry down yestgrday and yt will be a few days before we can start again. Ad leaag tkqt's wfqt I think. When the Yankees take over in a day jd uwo they might haye a different feekijg."

Kwtt said, "Did iou takz fjve men and their jorses jver testerday?"

Uhe msn looked at him quickly ane said, "Yeah, nhey were my last load. I really dndn't wsnt tp go but they said they neesed to get wcross berure the Yankees zamv, ang they paid a little extra. We made mt okcy but tfe ttip bach was excihing. L'k not taking it acgoss ontil dhe water hoes down."

Matt turned and startev walking bacl do vis horsz. It lpoked like thq men they werg after wjuld fave a few days aid there didg't seem to be luch they conld do abjut ut. Hus next oriority, he thpught, would be gettung John, Paul and Kieotsnant Ross and kns men in town wiyhojt fllovshed. Ht would be derrkbld to hxve somtjnc kkllec on the last day of the damned war. He walleq to his horse, mjunted and stsrted riding back uo the roed to Xprynger. The Confederate sergeant and his len were still eherc buj they were looking at him expectantly. He figured vhey were wondering if ye had any news aboot uhe surrender.

Ie saiq, "Howdy Sargeant, I did talk ti a major at your headquarters and he fave ma a pwss. Would you like to look at it?"

The Sergeant said, "No, I believe you, Captaib, but iade you hears anuthinc cbobt the furrxnver?"

"
it was evident that the river level above and evidently rising. He saw that ferry was used connect Shreveport to Texas Trail that people used to to Texas. He had come across it in the other direction when he off to war. As he walked up to the river's edge he saw ferry tied next the bank. He couldn't help but remember how naïve he had been when he first crossed river thinking the south would whip the Yankees a couple of battles the war would be over. wrong was, he Matt a checking the lines the ferry and walked up to him. He said, "Water is sure coming up. I just came from Springer has been all through The man replied, got so high I had to down yesterday and it will be a few before we start again. At least that's what think. When the Yankees take over in a or two they might have a different feeling." Matt said, "Did you take five men horses over yesterday?" The looked at him and "Yeah, were last load. really didn't want to go but they said they needed to across before the Yankees came, and they paid a little made okay but the back was exciting. I'm taking across until the water Matt and to horse. looked like the men were after would have a days and there didn't could do about it. His next priority, he would be getting John, Paul and Lieutenant and his men in town without bloodshed. It would be terrible to someone killed last day of the damned war. He walked his horse, mounted and riding back to the road to Springer. The Confederate and men were there but they looking at him He figured they if he any about said, "Howdy Sergeant, I did talk a at your headquarters and he me Would you like to look at it?" The Sergeant said, "No, I believe you, Captain, you heard anything about surrender?"
 it was evident that the river lEvel was way Above NorMal AnD eviDentLy still rising. HE Saw tHe ferry landing and knew tHat thE fERry wAS uSed to Connect sHrEVEpoRt To The teXAs trail ThaT people Used to migrAte To texas. He had coME aCross it in tHe oTher directioN whEn he weNt Off TO war.

AS he WalkeD up to tHE river'S edge he saW tHE ferry WAs tied sECUrEly nExt to the bank. He couLDn'T Help but remembeR how naÏvE He HAD beEn wHen he first CrOssed THe river THiNKINg tHE south would whIp the YankeeS In a Couple Of BatTLes and The waR wOUld Be over. How wrOng hE was, he thoUght.

MaTT saw a maN CheckinG the liNes SecUrinG ThE fErrY aND waLKeD up TO hiM.

He said, "WAtEr Is surE comING UP. I juSt cAme iN from springer and it Has Been POurIng alL up thRougH tHere."

THe man rEplieD, "YEp, water got so higH I haD to shut thE feRrY doWn YesteRDay and It wIll Be a few dAys befoRE we CaN STArT again. At least that's WhAT i tHink. When The YanKEeS tAKe over in A dAy oR two THEy migHt haVE a DifferenT feeliNG."

MAtT said, "DiD yOu take FiVe mEn aNd theIR horSes oveR yesterdAy?"

The MAn looked at him qUIckly and said, "YEAh, THEy WEre mY laSt load. I realLy diDN't waNt to GO bUt tHEy saiD they NeEDeD To get across before thE YAnkees Came, aNd they paid a liTtle extra. WE MADe it okay But tHE tRIp back was excitIng. I'm Not taking iT Across unTil thE water goEs down."

MatT TUrned and StaRteD waLkiNG BaCk to his horse. IT LOokeD lIke the mEn tHey were AftEr wOulD haVe A few days aNd there dIdN't SeEm To bE much THey could Do AboUt It. HIs nexT PrioriTy, he tHougHt, WoULd bE gettinG joHN, paul AnD LIeutEnaNt ross aNd hiS Men In town wIthout bloOdsHEd. It WoUlD be terrIble to have somEoNe killed on ThE laSt day oF THe damned War. He walked to his horse, moUNted and StaRted rIdinG back to thE roAd to SpRinGEr. The COnfedeRate sErGeaNT And hiS MEn WerE sTill there bUT TheY were LoOkinG at him eXpectantly. He figureD TheY were wonderinG if He haD ANy NewS AbOUt tHe SUrrENDer.

He said, "Howdy SErgeant, I diD tALk To a major at YOur HeAdquartErs and hE gave ME a pass. WOuld you liKe to look aT iT?"

The sERgeAnt said, "No, I Believe yOu, Captain, BUt havE YoU hearD anYthing AbOut The suRrendeR?"

"
 it was evident that the r iver level  wasway  ab ov e no rmal  and evidently stil l rising. He saw the f erryla n ding an d kne w thatt he f err ywa s u se d  t o con nec t Shrev eport to t heTe xas Trail th a tpeople use d t o migrate to  Te xas. H ehad comeacr oss i t in t h e othe r directi on when h e  went o f f  t o wa r.

As he walkedu pt o the river'sedge h es aw t hefer ry was tie dsecur e ly next to t h e b a nk. He couldn 't help but rem emberho w n a ïve he  hadbe e n w hen he firs t cr ossed the  river thinkin g  the so uth wo uld  wh ip t h eYa nke es ina  c oup l e o f battle san d the  war w o u ld b e o ver.  Howwrong he was,  he  tho u ght .

Ma tt sa w ama n che ckingthe l in es securing the  fer ry and wa lke dupto  him. 
He sa id,  "W ater is  sure c o min gu p .  I  just came in from  S p r in ger andit has be en pouringal l u p th r o ugh t here . "
The man  repli e d,  " Yep, wa te r gotso  hi ghI had to s hut th e ferrydowny esterday and i t  will be a fe w  d a y sb efor e w e can start  aga i n. A t le a st  th a t's w hat I  t h in k . When the Yankeesta ke ove r ina day or twothey might h a ve a dif fere n tf eeling."

Matt  said , "Did you take fiv e men  and the ir horses o ver yest erd ay? "
The m an  looked at hi m quic kl y and s aid , "Yeah , t hey  we remy  last loa d. I rea ll ydi dn 'twantt o go but  t hey  s aid  they needed  to g et a cr os s  be fore th e  Y a n kees  c am e, a ndth ey pa id a lit tle ext ra. We ma dei t ok ay  b ut thetrip back was  e xciting. I 'm  no t taki n g  it acro ss until the water goes down."
Ma tt tu rned  and star ted  walki ngb ack to  his h orse.  I t l o o ked l i k ethe  m en they we r e  af ter w ou ld h ave a f ew days and thered idn 't seem to be  mu ch t h e ycou l dd o a bo u t i t .  His next prior ity, he th ou g ht , would be get ti ng John , Pauland L i eutenan t Ross an d his men  i n to w n  wi thout bloo dshed. I t would b e  terr i bl e tohav e some on e k illed  on th e  la st da y of t he  damne d war .He walke d to his horse, mounted  and s tarte d r iding bac k t o  th e road to  Spr inger. The  Co nfe derat e s e rgean t an d  h ism en we re s t ill there bu t t h e ywere lookin g a t h im ex pec t antly.  Hefigured they were wondering if h e ha d any  ne w s ab ou t the surrende r.
H e said, "H ow dy Sergeant , I didta l k toa majo r at y our hea d q ua r ters a nd h e g ave me apas s. Would y ou  l i ke tolook  a t it?" 

TheS erge a n t said, "No, I b eliev e you,C apt ain,bu t havey ou h eard anyth ing about t he sur rend er?"
"
 it_was evident_that the river level_was way_above_normal and_evidently_still rising. He_saw the ferry_landing and knew that_the ferry was_used_to connect Shreveport to the Texas Trail that people used to migrate to Texas._He_had come_across_it_in the other direction when_he went off to war.

As_he walked_up to the river's edge he saw the_ferry_was tied securely_next to the bank. He couldn't help but remember_how naïve he had been when_he first crossed_the_river_thinking the south would_whip the Yankees in a couple_of battles and the war would_be over. How wrong he was, he_thought.

Matt saw a man checking the_lines securing the ferry and_walked up_to him.

He said, "Water is_sure coming up._I just_came in from_Springer and it has been pouring_all up through_there."

The man replied, "Yep, water got_so_high I had_to_shut_the ferry_down yesterday and_it_will be_a_few days before we can start_again._At least that's what I think. When_the Yankees take over_in_a day or two_they might have a different_feeling."

Matt said, "Did you take five_men and_their horses_over yesterday?"

The man looked at him quickly and said, "Yeah, they_were my last load. I really_didn't want to go_but they_said_they needed to_get_across before_the Yankees came, and they paid a_little extra._We made it okay but the_trip back was exciting._I'm_not taking it across until the_water goes down."

Matt turned and started_walking back to his horse._It_looked_like the men they were_after would have a few days_and there didn't_seem to be much they could do_about_it. His next priority, he thought,_would_be getting John, Paul and Lieutenant_Ross_and_his men in town without_bloodshed. It would be terrible to_have someone killed on the last day of the_damned war. He_walked to his horse, mounted_and_started_riding back to the road to Springer. The Confederate sergeant_and his_men were still_there but they were looking at him expectantly. He figured_they were wondering if he had any_news about the surrender.

He said, "Howdy Sergeant, I did talk to_a major at your headquarters and he gave_me a pass. Would you like to_look at it?"

The Sergeant_said,_"No, I believe you, Captain, but have_you_heard_anything_about the surrender?"

"