The Big Gun (Dusty Fog's Civil War Book 3) by J.T. Edson Page A

they split up, the greater chance of it
being located by the men in the balloon,’ Dusty explained. ‘Seeing
that we know now which way they’re headed, a single Company might
be able to handle it.’
    ‘ Your Company, I suppose, Dustine,’ Ole Devil put in.
    ‘ Not
necessarily, sir,’ Dusty replied. ‘But Company C is at full
strength and—well, I’d been figuring on taking them on a long
training ride, so they’re armed and supplied ready to go. I reckon
we could handle it.’
    None of the older men spoke for several
seconds, but all studied the small, blond youngster. Dusty had
already reverted to his more comfortable, non-issue style of dress
and, without any suggestion of being cocky or self-assured, he
exuded a quiet aura of confidence. If he was sent on the mission
and failed, it would not be through rashness or a lack of thought
and planning ability.
    Behind a cold mask that hid all
emotion, Ole Devil was deeply concerned. He knew that the threat of
the big gun must be removed as quickly as possible. If it was not,
it could easily turn the scales in the Union ’s favor. To send Dusty across
the Ouachita might cause his death; but the same applied no matter
which officer received the assignment and the general knew them all as well as
he did his small, blond nephew.
    The question facing Ole Devil
was whether Dusty could carry out the mission. The general was
inclined to believe that he could. Regard for his favorite nephew’s
safety could not be allowed to affect the decision. Ever since
Dusty had joined the regiment, he had proven himself a capable,
courageous and intelligent officer and leader. All three qualities
had been amply displayed in how he had dealt with the affair at
Stilton Grossing. While Dusty had had Captain Staunce’s assistance,
the main plan had been his own. What was more, the youngster had
insisted upon personally testing both sets of harness before
allowing them to be used in creating a convincing and effective
part of the deception.
    ‘ Very
well, Dustine,’ the general said, trying to keep his voice hard and
impersonal. ‘You will take your Company and destroy the big
gun.’
    ‘ Yo!’
Dusty assented, unable to suppress the eagerness he was
feeling.
    Although Hondo Fog shared the
general ’s
concern for his son’s future, he forced himself to carry out his
duty.
    ‘ When
do you plan to move out, Dusty?’ Hondo inquired.
    ‘ Before midnight, if I can, sir,’ the small Texan replied.
‘Or as soon as I can after. I want to be well beyond the river by
sun-up, so that I can come at them from behind. They’ll be less
likely to expect us from that direction.’
    ‘ That’s good thinking, Dustine,’ Colonel Blaze praised. ‘Is
there anything you need by way of supplies?’
    ‘ No,
sir,’ Dusty replied. ‘Like I said, I’ve had the men set for a
three-day ride. We’ve everything we need. Except maybe—’
    ‘ Well?’ Blaze prompted.
    ‘ Could
I ask Captain Staunce to come with me, sir?’
    ‘ You
mean you want to take his mountain battery?’ asked Ole
Devil.
    ‘ Yes,
sir. Those little wheel-guns of his throw a shell for over half a
mile and, with his men handling them, come real close to hitting
what they’re aimed at. They could make our work a whole heap easier
and more certain.’
    ‘ Won’t
they slow you down, or be awkward to take across the river?’ Hondo
wanted to know.
    ‘ I
don’t think so,’ Dusty answered. ‘We’ll not be travelling too far
at a gallop and, if we have to, we can get them across on boats.
I’ve another reason for wanting Doug—Captain Staunce—along. The big
gun won’t be too far from the river. We might just be able to
capture it and fetch it back with us.’
    ‘ There’s not a whole lot of hope of that,’ Blaze
warned.
    ‘ No,
sir.’ Dusty conceded. ‘But, happen the chance comes, I’d like to be
ready for it. And Captain Staunce knows a heap more than I do about
moving a cannon.’
    ‘ Very
well,’ Ole Devil