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over in the feather tick and went back to sleep.
    * * *
    During breakfast, Captain Woodville explained the secret smile.
    â€œI’ve been what? ” Jamie blurted.
    â€œYou’ve been commissioned a major in the Army of the Confederacy, sir,” Cort said.
    â€œBy whose orders?”
    â€œGeneral Lee, Major. You are to assume command immediately of two companies of Confederate guerrillas and commence harassing the enemy, sir.”
    â€œThe rider I heard last night.”
    â€œYes, sir. General Lee telegraphed all his commanding officers that could be handily reached by wire, seeking their opinion on your commission, and I am proud to say the returning word was unanimously in favor.”
    â€œWell, I’ll just be damned!” Jamie blurted, then cut his eyes to Anne. “I beg your pardon, Mrs. Woodville.”
    She laughed and poured them all fresh coffee. “No need to apologize, Major MacCallister. I’m very happy for you.”
    â€œGeneral Lee predicted that three days from now, when I am to ride with you to a staging area about thirty miles from here, volunteers would be lined up fifty deep and an acre across to join you, Major,” Cort said.
    â€œI never commanded men before.”
    Cort smiled. “You just thought you weren’t commanding them, Major. But they were following you.”
    Anne almost blurted out that she could certainly testify to the accuracy of that. She bit back the words just in the nick of time.
    That would have really shocked her husband right down to the soles of his polished cavalryman’s boots.
    * * *
    Since they were to be guerrillas, Jamie was adamant about uniforms: there were to be no military uniforms worn in his unit.
    â€œThen you run the risk of being shot as spies,” Lee pointed out.
    â€œNot as long as we stay in our own territory,” Jamie countered. “Although the Yankees might not see it quite that way,” he added with a smile.
    Lee and his other generals agreed—Johnston had been unable to attend. He was meeting with President Davis.
    Jamie was stunned at the size of the contingent that had volunteered to ride with his command. Hundreds of men had arrived at the staging area in hopes of being chosen to ride with MacCallister’s Marauders—that name not of Jamie’s choosing, but of Cort’s.
    Jamie stepped in front of the group and shouted, “I want men who can ride like the wind, shoot like Davy Crockett—and remember this: I fought beside Davy for days at the Alamo—and who possess the courage to charge the gates of hell at my command!” 4
    The entire group of men stepped forward.
    Lee shook his head, smiled sadly and murmured, “Brave lads all.”
    Jamie had read over the records of the officers who had volunteered and chose Captain Jim Sparks from Texas as commanding officer of First Company, and Captain Pierre Dupree of Louisiana as commanding officer of Second Company. As his command sergeant major, he chose an Alabama man, a career soldier who had left the Federal forces after years of brave and loyal service, and many commendations, to fight for his homeland: Louie Huske.
    â€œMake out a list of the men you want,” Jamie told his two captains and his sergeant major. “They’ve got to be men who can get along with each other, and men who will stand. When you’ve done all that, we’ll go over the lists together, interview the men, and choose together.”
    Each company would be comprised of one hundred and three men and officers. They would carry only light rations, depending for the most part on the good will and generosity of the people of the South for food. Each man would carry four pistols, two on their person and two on special-made saddle holsters, one left and right, butt facing to the rear. Each man would carry one Sharps .54 caliber carbine. Cort tried to persuade Jamie to add sabers to the list of weapons, but Jamie stood his