May 1862, the 22nd United States Cavalry was getting R&R at a replacment camp near Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. Cpl Blutch was sitting under a tree while Sgt Chesterfield was drilling new recruits for the 22nd US Cavalry, marching them with their carbines on their shoulders and Sgt Chesterfield with his saber drawn and placed on his shoulder.

Sgt Chesterfield: "Left, Left, Left Right Left."

Cpl Blutch: "By the right flank, MARCH!"

The detail of recruits turned right and started marching to the right, Sgt Chesterfield turned around and saw Blutch drinking from his canteen, he went back to the detail and corrected their movements.

Sgt Chesterfield: "About, FACE. FORWARD MARCH!" They followed the Sergeant's command and continued in the marching drill, until Blutch did it again.

Cpl Blutch: "LEFT MARCH, RIGHT MARCH, QUICKSTEP, MARCH!" The Recruits did it, but ended up toppling all over each other in a giant doggy pile of green cavalry replacements.

Sgt Chesterfield looked back at the Corporal with a scowl, Blutch was writing in his diary, but was snickering and the Sergeant could see this.

Sgt Chesterfield: "BLUTCH!"

Cpl Blutch (To Himself): "Well, gotta run." He shut his diary, placed it in his cavalry jacket and ran off, the Sergeant soon followed in pursuit. At this point there was only one way to stop him and get away.

Cpl Blutch (With his hand out): "HALT!" The Sergeant stopped dead in his tracks and stood at attention at the sudden order, Blutch smirked and ran off in hid in a tree.

Sgt Chesterfield: *Rolling up his sleeves* "Why that little..."

Orderly: "Sergeant Chesterfield?!" The Sergeant turned to the thin orderly, with still a little bit of a scowl on his face, the orderly jumped to attention. "Gen Alexander wants to see you and Cpl Blutch right away."

Sgt Chesterfield: "At ease Soldier." The Orderly exhaled, he now saw the Sergeant was calm, for the most part. "ATTENTION!" The Orderly jumped to attention, did the standard army 180 degree spin and walked back to Gen Alexander's headquarters.

Sgt Chesterfield: "Blutch, get out of the tree, we have to see the General."

Cpl Blutch: "Do I have to go?" Sgt Chesterfield pulled out his pistol and shot at a twig that was millimeters away from Cpl Blutch's face.

Sgt Chesterfield (Deviously Smirking and Spinning Pistol): "Unless you want to be plugged between the eyes you will."

Cpl Blutch: "SADIST!"

They walked over to where Gen Alexander, his staff and some other officers were having a meeting on their latest mission for the 22nd Cavalry, which wasn't another charge against Confederate lines. The Sergeant and the Corporal walked in and saluted, the Sergeant in his proper military fashion, the Corporal just did it his usual way, lazily.

Gen Alexander: "Ah gentlemen, excellent you're here, we were just about to discuss the mission."

Sgt Chesterfield: "What mission sir?"

Cpl Blutch (Suspiciously): "Yeah, what mission?" The Sergeant stepped on his foot, Blutch managed to hold back his scream.

Gen Alexander: "Well, here is the mission, it will lead by your commander of Company B, Lt Danford and Lt Cohill will be second in command in Company B. You'll be heading Southwest to Fort Point on the Santa Fe trail and bring back 50,000 Dollars worth of gold that came straight from California, just another thing to cover the expenses this terrible war has costed us, but if the Rebels get their hands on it, they'll be able to by the troops, guns , and ammunition they need to beat us and take Washington, and we'll lose the war."

Lt Danford: "You two are the most trustworthy in the entire Regiment, you'll be needed on this mission."

Sgt Chesterfield (Saluting and smiling): "Yes sirs, we won't let you down."

Cpl Blutch: "Wait, don't we get a..." The Corporal's foot was stepped on again, and he held back his scream, and question.

Sgt Chesterfield: "We'll get ready right away." They both saluted their superiors and walked out of the building and back to their tent. When they walked into the tent, Cpl Blutch sat on him cold and gave Sgt Chesterfield a cold stare.

Sgt Chesterfield: "Okay, I'll bite, what is it."

Cpl Blutch: "It's the fact that you keep volunteering us, and letting us do these ridiculous mission."

Sgt Chesterfield: "I just stopped you from making a big mistake, we won't have to participate in Capt Stark's charges for a while, and Lt Danford is an excellent officer, as well as Lt Cohill, you have to agree that it won't be that bad."

Cpl Blutch (Conflicted): "Yeah well I'm, I'm still not so sure."

Sgt Chesterfield: "Come on Corporal, don't be such a baby."

Cpl Blutch: "Alright fine, I'll do it, but under protest."

Sgt Chesterfield (Chuckling): "Put it in writing."

Cpl Blutch (Grumbling): "Put it in writing he says." He walked out of the tent to feed Polka, Sgt Chesterfield just smiled.

The Next Day

Company B was formed and waiting in front of Gen Alexander's headquarters, Lt Danford, Lt Cohill, Sgt Chesterfield and Cpl Blutch galloped to the front of the waiting Company.

Lt Danford: "Right by four's Sergeant." The Sergeant saluted and the Lieutenant returned it.

Sgt Chesterfield (Sitting up in the Saddle): "RIGHT BY FOUR'S, FORWARD, YO-HO!"

The first part of the column made up of Lt Danford, Lt Cohill, Sgt Chesterfield, and Cpl Blutch, and behind them were the colors, the Company Guidon, the Guidon of the Union, and the Regimental Guidon, all three of these battle flags were highly prestiged within the Regiment.

Lt Danford: "BUGLER, PLAY US A TUNE."

Bugler: "Yes sir." *Army of the Free*

In the army of the Union we are marching in the van,
And will do the work before us, if the bravest soldiers can;
We will drive the Rebel forces from their strongholds to the sea,
And will live and die together in the Army of the Free.

We may rust beneath inaction, we may sink beneath disease,
The summer sun may scorch us or the winter's blasts may freeze,
But whatever may befall us, we will let the Rebels see,
That unconquered we shall still remain the Army of the Free.

(Chorus)
The Army of the Free, in the Army of the Free,
That unconquered we shall still remain the Army of the Free.

We have Butterfield the daring and we've Martindale the cool,
Where could we learn the art of war within a better school;
Add Morell to the list of names and we must all agree,
We have the finest Generals in the Army of the Free.

(Chorus)
The Army of the Free, in the Army of the Free,
We have the finest Generals in the Army of the Free.

Then hurrah for our Division, may it soon be called to go,
To add its strength to those who have advanced to meet the foe;
God bless it, for we know right well, wherever it may be,
'Twill never fail to honor our great Army of the Free.

(Chorus)
The Army of the Free, in the Army of the Free,
'Twill never fail to honor our great Army of the Free.

They galloped toward the sunset, on a mission that would take the two Bluecoats on their greatest adventure yet. The supply wagons and pack mules brought up the rear with the troopers that made up the rear guard, spirits were high and the men of Company B felt invincible.