In front was a man on horseback, in blue uniform, with yellow facings--a
dragoon. He was an orderly, a messenger from the fort. He was covered
with dust, his horse was in a lather of sweat and foam. The condition
of both horse and man showed that they had been going for hours at
top-speed.
The man handed me a piece of paper--a dispatch hastily scrawled. It was
addressed to Gallagher and myself. I opened and read:
"Bring on your men to Fort King as fast as their horses can carry them.
The enemy is around us in numbers; every rifle is wanted--lose not a
moment. Clinch."