Read Online Talons of Eagles by William W. Johnstone - Free Book Online

General Beauregard; instead he spent several hours riding back and forth over as much of the area as he could, talking with Rebel troops. Jamie did not know much about commanding huge armies, but he did know guerrilla tactics. In his mind, he wondered if the Yankees had any outfit such as his own—they did, but were not as yet ready for action. If the Union army had men such as those Jamie commanded, he saw a flaw in Beauregard’s positioning of troops, for the general was so sure the Union forces would attack across Mitchell’s Ford, that he had spread too few troops on the left side of his lines. Jamie understood why the general had done that, for the left side of the line consisted of either thick, almost impenetrable woods, or narrow, twisting roads that no advancing army of any size could use with any speed.
    But if the Federals had guerrillas . . . ? Jamie shook his head at that thought.
    Jamie had to hide his smile when he reported to Beauregard, for the next words out of the general’s mouth, after he greeted and congratulated him, were, “I want you and your Marauders on this side of my line, Major.” He tapped a map position. “Right here at Sudley Ford. But you are not confined to that area alone. Go where you are needed.” He smiled. “And a man of your many talents will surely be needed, I assure you of that.”
    â€œI’ll get settled in then, General, and get my men in position.”
    Jamie turned to go, and Beauregard’s voice stopped him. “Major, we’ll probably be falling back some few thousand yards.” He smiled again. “Be prepared to move out hurriedly.”
    â€œYes, sir. I was briefed down south.”
    â€œI assumed as much, but I wanted to be sure.”
    Jamie saluted and left the tent.
    It was July 16.
    Beauregard’s army stretched for more than six miles along Bull Run. The Confederate government in Richmond had expressly forbidden Beauregard from taking any type of offensive action, and after seeing that the Rebels were not going to bring the fight to them, the Yankees began a slow advance toward Rebel positions. They had no way of knowing that it was a trap, for when the Federal troops had advanced far enough, Beauregard’s plan was to flank them and cut them off from the nation’s capital.
    The Yankees’ advance was slowed to a snail’s pace in the sparsely populated area, filled with thick brush, dense forests, and creek bottoms that seemed to swallow the wagons up to their axles. Many of the Federal troops became separated from their units and got lost.
    Jamie’s men captured more than two dozen of them, and they were disarmed and brought to Jamie.
    Boys, Jamie thought, looking at the scared young men standing in front of him. They should be playing games and sparking young girls.
    Jamie walked the short line, eyeballing each prisoner for a few seconds. The imposing figure of Jamie MacCallister stalking up and down in front of them caused many of the soldiers to tremble in their hot and ill-fitting uniforms. Jamie wore his customary black shirt and gray britches, a yellow kerchief tied around his neck. With his moccasins and high leggins, deeply tanned face, and muscular build, he looked sort of like a pirate to the young men. They didn’t know who the hell had captured them.
    Jamie cleared that up promptly.
    â€œI am Major Jamie MacCallister, MacCallister’s Marauders.”
    â€œOh, shit!” a young private muttered. “They’re gonna shoot us for sure.”
    Jamie hid his smile. “You boys are the lucky ones. You’re out of this war.”
    Jamie ordered the young soldiers to be taken to Beauregard’s HQ for questioning and then settled down to wait for some action. But none came that night, and the Marauders all got a good night’s sleep. Mid-morning of the 17th, a runner found the major and told him to fall back; Union troops were only about a mile from