Through you I have betrayed my
country and my people. I would gladly die in your place. The hard thing
will be to do my duty and give you up to the death you have earned."
"You can deliver me to execution?"
"Yes--" was the firm answer. "Listen to this--"
She seized a copy of the morning paper.
"Colonel Dahlgren's instructions to his men. This document was found on
his person when shot. There is no question of its genuineness--"
She paused and read in cold hard tones:
"Guides, pioneers (with oakum, turpentine and torpedoes), signal
officer, quarter master, commissary, scouts, and picket men in rebel
uniform--remain on the north bank and move down with the force on the
south bank. If communications can be kept up without giving an alarm
it must be done. Everything depends upon a surprise, and no one must
be allowed to pass ahead of this column. All mills must be burned and
the canal destroyed. Keep the force on the southern side posted of
any important movement of the enemy, and in case of danger some of
the scouts must swim the river and bring us information. We must try
to secure the bridge to the city (one mile below Belle Isle) and
release the prisoners at the same time.
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