The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-25
THE IRON BRIGADE
Story OF THE ARMY OF TIE POTOMAC

been sent TO Newport News with the
wounded and exchanged. and thence had
gone to the roof of the Doctors devoted sis
ter in Washington Once again had the
great-hearted President sent for the gen.
erals aid-de-camp, and this time babe him
go meet the ChiltonS and see them safely
TO their destination.
But that meeting had not made our Bad
ger boy too happy. The doctor was ageing
fast and apparently breaking Resale was
stern and strange. Squire Benton, with
Elinor. as he had long planned. FASTENED
on 10 Washington when notified by wire
that Fred had weeks leave from the
front. and Fred's earnest, yet almost hum
bic plea that he should be allowed TO bring
his father 10 see DR.. Chilton-his sister to
see her-Rosalie had almost CURLY refused.
Then she had fairly stunned him by say
ing: IF you really wish TO do me favor,
Mr.. Benton, there Is one man I'd like to
meet, and that is-Major Lounsberry" Ben
ton should have known by the fash in her
eye, the fire in her manner, the fury in her
tone mat Tor no sweet assurance did she
so desire to see that distinguished Virgin
ian, now every moment expectant of ex-
change, but in her nervous, fitful. wrathful
state when not needed az her fathers side
Rosalie's wondrous face had an almost un-
eartnly beauty, and in Benton's deep and
passionate, yet seemingly helpless, hopeless
love, he was consumed with unreasoning
jealousy and went back to the front sore
hearted. Yet ii was through his planning
after all, that they met-the blue-eyed sis
ter who SO surely had read her brother
secret-thc dark-eyed, chatting, ftful, fun
Ing virginia beauty who so surely held it.
women, az least, will know with what
yelled scrutiny they searched each others
races, studied each others every point
ana pose and gesture, and they had
ample time. for sea air had been or
dered Tor DIR. Chiffon; Washington was tor
ria and unwholesome; and just before Fred
hurried back to the division he had brief
conference with his father. The Chiltons
would surely need money. said he. and
surely refuse ii IL rendered by them.
Neither the doctor nor Resale began to
KNOW, until long months thereafter, that
the ample means so readily supplied by the
doctor widowed sister came (as she did
not know-not too readily from that hard
headed, hard-fisted Western lawyer who
though well-to-do, had earned his wealth
put slowly, and whose next move was to
cape May with Elinor. There was little he
could now deny that boy of whom the Pres
ldent himself had so highly spoken (proud
indeed was Fred of that, and there were
they stili recuperating at the Atlantic sea-
poard, the fathers already friends, the
daughters still ION guard" at the very mo-
ment when Jack Chiffon, scouting with the
advance of Fftzhugh Lees brigade, and
Paul Ladue. riding the dim picket lines OF
EweHs grim veterans, and Fred Benton,
mere at Buckland's, closing in with that
strong, disciplined division, were dreaming
not ten miles apart of what the morrow
might bring forth.
Not until the shadows grew long across
the stubble fields that lovely August even
ing came the first fierce grapple of that de-
voted brigade. Marching at dawn through
Gainesville crowded with Sigel's trains and
teamsters drought along, said Mcdowell,
IN spite of orders), through which they
ward distance little SNOWFALL puffs, burst
ing sudden into view above the treetops,
then drifting into vaporous nothing, told
the shells were flying fast ahead, while
similar heecy cloudlets against the dark
background of the Bull Run range told
equally of other fighting to their left and
rear. Twas there that Buford strove to
C0ldiprly
ing thither with anxious eyes, turned Rick
etts out OF column and sent him back with
his whole division to hold that pass. Rey-
nolds, with his 'decimated relic" of the
pennsylvania Reserves, had gone on ahead
in the wake of Sigefs corps, but all were
out OF sight and touch when the corps
into the winding wood roads toward Manas-
sas until brought up standing after D. M
by disconcerting news from Pope-that the
hare had not waited for the bag, that swift
footed Jackson had given them the Slip
and wasn't where they looked for him at
all. In point of fact, having no cavalry to
do his looking for him, Pope didn't know
where Jackson was.
1t is three hours later when, bidding his
biggest division obey it's new orders, just
received, Mcdowell. deep laden with that
of sheol-the best intentions in the world
rides away to find his chieftain Pope and
show him the field. Thereby he loses Pope.
loses touch with his divisions, loses all
chance of usefulness in the battle that is
to close the day-loses, in fact. himself, for
he cannot find his way to his own COM
mand over the field he knew so well the
year before, even when signaled by the
guiding thunder of the heaviest cannonade,
the sullen crashing of the fiercest yolleying,
those tangled woods have ever heard. At
5 or whereabouts comes staff officer from
Pope with these astounding tidings-Jack-
son is located. Jackson has dared to cross
Bull run and march In the teeth of the COM
ing corps of the Army of the Potomac.
Reno and Kearney have followed his rear
guard-Hilrs Light Division-straight to
Centerville. Where Is General Mcdowell?
Here! Well, General Pope's orders for
this, McDOwelPs corps, TO retrace its steps
to the Warrenton pike. then turn eastward
and march forthwith on Centerville whith-
er Jackson, with all hands, has shifted his
colors, and where Pope now proposes to
apply the sack Further orders will meet
the corps on the way.
Now there Is but one division to obey the
order but loud ring the buges through the
leafy woods. Up spring the men of the
old brigade, refreshed by three hours rest
with coffee and bareback TO comfort them
ere starting, and as the heads of columns
reach the pike again and turn sturdily
away eastward some level-headed band
leader signals to his men. and the Black
Hats set up a shout as the woods ring to
the rollicking strains of "Aint / glad to
git out o. de Wilderness?" Four brigades
in solid column they swing along the broad
dry thoroughfare, full six thousand boys
in blue. Those in the lead, at least-those
now under Hatch and Gibbon, who have
been long in the division-are stanch and
seasoned men; those that follow, under
Doubleday, three Eastern regiments, for
some reason not understood seem struggling
and dispirited. The colonel commanding
the Seventy-sixth New York ruefully says
he can muster only $50 men with the col
ors the rest having fallen out, exhausted
by the severity of the march" Doubleday
brigade seems, therefore, little bigger than
one of Gibbons stalwart Western regi-
ments Rearmost OF ALL far back toward
Gainesville, comes Patrick with his pre-
sumably aforementioned command, but he
and they enter not into what follows, their
leader claiming later that he had or
ders" and so contented himself with look
ing on when, by pitching In on the exposed
flank, he could have rolled the Confederate
line upon itself and turned the struggle
into splendid victory.
But if Jackson's real movements are I'M
known to our generals, rest you sure the
ewes of his army have not been left behind
Early that very morning Old Jack has had
that enterprising young brigade COM
nander, Bradley Johnson, scouting out
toward Gainesville, and Johnson sends
young Gather with his gsay-clad troop
spiering still further, lodging Sigel and
REYNOLDS. interposing betwixt them and
Mcdowell. and when our confident courier
comes galloping along with McDoweil's
dispatch to these otherS-to Sfgel and Rey-
nolds-telling them just what is planned
for the day. Gather gathers him in, sends
the much-appreciated programme 10 john
son. who grins with delight and passes it
on to Old Jack himself, away off toward
Sudley Springs, snoozing with his division
commanders, Ewell and Taliaferro, on their
soldier pillows-saddles-in the snake-fence
corner and Jackson wakes 40 read and to
sudden reioieipg Here is the chance OF a