The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-24
THE IRON BRIGADE
4 STORY OF THE ARMY OF the POTOMAC

lOWn ana a leeHnS lHdl we were Sellih5
rather the worst of the grapple on the
peninsula, the atmosphere about the War
Department was gloomy enough the day
the young officer arrived. He had had no
time to replace. as yet. the handsome equip
ments sacrificed in his escape. (What had
Queen Rosalie done. for instance, with
that beautiful soft silken sash that he left
in his room?) He had hoped to do so before
reporting but at the hospital where he left
his prisoner with a lingering handclasp
and promise of a later call. there awaited
him a note saying the adjutant general.
despite the early hour, desired his pres
ence without delay. There in the ante
room, with officers, orderlies and messen-
gers grouped about or coming and going,
sat the long. lanky and phenomenally SOL
emn Virginian he had first seen that night
at the stone house on the Warrenton pike.
Jennings knew the newcomer at glance
and, springing up. shook him effusively by
the hand. A moment later officer APP
peared at another door and beckoned Ben
ton to enter. What do you know about
that MANI was the very first question
propounded the instant the door closed
behind him.
was at the stone house. in trouble with
some of our brigade. the first time I saw
him-seemed to be well known to DIR. Chill
ton and other Virginians. and later he was
with the Sixth Wisconsin the afternoon
they captured Major Lounsberry."
"But-how about papers-information-
concerning our forces that he received that
| night? You were captured while graphing
,,rvl.t
| them
'I?" cried Benton. Good heavens!" And
| then stood dumb, for all on a sudden it
| flashed over him. Rosalie! Rosalie, who
| had so inexplicably donned Ladue's uni
| form, ventured down through the darkness
| to the pike. seeking some at the stone
house. Rosalie who had refused to tell
what influence prompted that apparently
| reckless escapade, Papers? Information
| concerning our movements? Why, what
| sense was there in her taking all that risk
| when at that very moment our pckets
were falling back before Stuart's trium-
| plant advance-when all but a few of the
guard had already disappeared from the
| Henry place-when by midnight or at the
latest at dawn she was almost sure to be
| again in touch with her own friends and
| kindred? Aye, but did she know that?
Might it not be that there had been pa
pers-maps-memoranda in the pockets of
Ladue's uniform that she deemed of vital
| Importance to the cause she loved, and so
| had sought what she deemed the surest,
| quickest way to get them to him? Ladue
| was to go. If possible, to Hopewell and the
| Armisteads. Jennings, If at the stone
| house, could take the packet thither. At
| all events, 1t would then be in safe hands
| If 1t proved, indeed, Of value-safe beyond
| possibility of being taken by the Union SOL
| diers and used to the injury of her wound
| ed brother Perhaps that was why she had
| fought so furiously when he grappled with
that supple, slender form. Perhaps after
his capture she had given 1t to Jennings.
All this and more flashed through his mind
| as he stood there in the dark little Office,
with his interrogation impatiently facing
him, and two other officials looking up at
him from paper-lttered table, much i'm
pressed, evidently, by the significance of his
silence and embarrassment
EYES," sharply repeated the first speaker,
papers. and, doubtless, valuable informa-
ton. You saw them pass to Jennings. as
he calls himself. did you not?''
'T saw nothing of the kind" answered
Benton, inexpressibly relieved that. as yet
at least, he had had no occasion to speak
of her-to reveal the fact that the daring
young Southerner with whom he had crap
pied was no officer at all. yet what a SOL
der, What leader of men! What a con-
queror and commander Indeed" he went
on eagerly, 81 was too busy trying to get
out of the scrape to think of Jennings
| or 4
was in a hand-to-hand fight in two Sec
onds. never knew what became of Jen.
nings."
You remember Sergeant Miller, do you
not?"
81 remember a sergeant-an Indiana SER
geant, and very keen one. who was there
but feared he and his party were killed
| or captured"
Some of them WERE" said the examin.
ing officer grimly "but Miller dove into
the bushes. made his way through the
darkness and escaped. He declares he saw
the young rebel officer toss the packet tC
Jennings and heard him cry. For General
-to-night-surev And now here
is Jennings begging to be allowed to SCI
two prisoners-Major Lounsberry and the
young virginian. Pelham, who were wound
| piOtcCtiiS ehC udy yOu were res
cued. he brings a note from the President
Look here!'' and, taking scrap of paper
from his desk, the staff officer held it forth
for Benton's inspection. 1t was brief an6
to the point:
1.-THE bearer. Mr.. Jennings, has been Of
service and asks to see two friends-prison
ers-Major Lounsberry and Trooper Pelham
/ shall be glad If opportunity can be giver
him. (Signed) A. LINCOLN"
Benton read and looked up inquiringly
81 too should like to see them-Lounsberr,
at least" said he with eyes that kindlet
and lips that set, but not as a prisoner
I have a score to settle with that gentle
man. When does Mr.. Jennings go?"
Cant say. The secretary said no en-
phatically-not until matters were ex
planned. 1t was thought you might settl,
| it one way or another before we questioned
him." And the officer was manifestly dis
appointed. and still he persisted "Yo,
heard nothing about him?-Dr Chiltor
never spoke of him while you were a
| Charlottesville"
, at cannot recall his ever doing so-excep
casually But Judge Armistead, not tn,
, general. was there at Gainesville. NV be
lief is that General Armistead was not nea,
Manassas when / was taken. Miller mus
have misunderstood"