"Now I accept your apologies," said Warner loftily.

Pennington laughed.

"You're a queer fellow, George," he said. "When this war is over and I
receive my general's uniform I'm coming up into the Vermont mountains and
look your people over. Will it be safe?"

"Of course, if you learn to read and write by then, and don't come
wearing your buffalo robe. We're strong on education and manners."

"Why, George," said Pennington in the same light tone, "I could read when
I was two years old, and, as for writing, I wrote a lot of text-books for
the Vermont schools before I came to the war."

"Shut up, you two," said Dick. "Don't you know that this is a war and
not a talking match?"

"It's not a war just now, or at least there are a few moments between
battles," retorted Warner, "and the best way I can use them is in
instructing our ignorant young friend from Nebraska."

Their conversation was interrupted by Colonel Winchester, who ordered the
regiment to move to a new point. General Grant had decided to attack a
little town called Port Gibson, which commanded the various approaches to
Grand Gulf. If he could take that he might shut up Bowen and his force
in Grand Gulf. On the other hand, if he failed he might be shut in
himself by Confederate armies gathering from Jackson, Vicksburg, and
elsewhere. The region, moreover, was complicated for both armies by