Dick was inclined to believe that Warner was right, but he forgot about
his prediction, because a mail came down the river that afternoon,
and he received a letter from his mother, his beautiful young mother,
who often seemed just like an elder sister.

She was in Pendleton, she wrote, staying comfortably in their home.
The town was occupied by three companies of veteran Union troops who
behaved well. They were always glad to have a garrison of good soldiers
whether Federal or Confederate--sometimes it was one and sometimes the
other. But she thought the present Union force would remain quite a
while, as she did not look for the reappearance of the Southern army in
Kentucky. But if the town were left without troops she would go back to
her relatives in the Bluegrass, as Bill Skelly's band to the eastward in
the mountains was raiding and plundering and had become a great menace.
Guerillas were increasing in numbers in those doubtful regions.

"The regular troops will have to deal with those fellows later on,"
said Dick.

"Dr. Russell has had a letter from Harry Kenton," continued Mrs. Mason.
"It was written from some point near the Pennsylvania line, and, while
Harry did not say so in his letter, I know that General Lee is expecting
a great victory in the North. Harry was not hurt at Chancellorsville,
but he says he does not see how he escaped, the fire of the cannon and
rifles being more awful than any that he had ever seen before. He was
present when General Jackson was mortally wounded, and he seems to have
been deeply affected by it. He writes that the Confederacy could better
have lost a hundred thousand men."