"Massacre"

On the morning of the 28th, the soldiers entered a pine thicket below Wahoo Swamp, near the present-day town of Bushnell. Major Dade rode at the head of the group with the slave Pacheco at his side. There were no flankers. The soldiers had so little concern for the enemy, they buttoned their overcoats over their cartridge boxes to guard against a chill.

A gray horse appeared on the path up ahead. Was it a sign?