The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-13
THE IRON BRIGADE
A STORY OF THE ARMY OF THE P0T0MAc



from the Henry house that sunshiny even
ing the long shadows were slanting across
the levels, and the dazzling shield of the
day god was well down at the west. Shad-
ows. too, had fallen on the blithe spirits
that had been his in the earlier hours.
Surely he could not have been mistaken
about that face thinned and haggard as
though from recent illness, and livid with
the consciousness of imminent peril; and
If he had not been mistaken just as surely
he had been tricked-tricked, in all prob
ability. by that defiant and yet most at
tractive Virginia girl. Virginian he be-
lieved her to be, partly because her accent
so resent led that of the very palpable
Virginian. the owner. and partly because
that courteous and well-mannered native.
in answer to somewhat imperious ques-
ton. said: 1.-The young lady. sub. is
daughter of old DR.. Chiffon, of Charlottes-
ville."
To the very natural question that fol-
lowed, What was Miss Chiffon doing
there?" fhe Virginian had answer equally
prompt and Gignifed. Her brother. a lieu
tenant In Stuart's cavalry, had been acct
dentally shot by the pickets the dark night
n
ant at the Thornton place. across Bull run,
too badly wounded to be moved when john
ston fell back from Manassas had bribed
his friends to send him away in a cart
when he heard of the Union advance, and
cart and. contents had been run down by
other troopers Averells - before they
reached Manassas. The wounded boy, de-
lirious with fever, was even now lying in
the room his sister guarded. DR.. Alexan-
der. of General McDowelrs staff, had twice
been to see him. DIR. Chiffon had come,
bringing his devoted daughter, and then
gone on to Fairfax in hopes of obtaining
from General Mcclellan permission to take
his son on parole. by slow stages, to Char
lottesville. and Miss Chiffon meanwhile re-
NAMED there under what was left of a
roof. and what he (Mr. Henry could offer
by way of care and protection. Indeed,
there could be little doubt of the presence
of sorely sick man, for fevered means,
mingling with the gentle, soothing APP
pealing words of the fair nurse, could be
heard in the adjoining room. Moreover,
brief conference with the guard without
did much to confirm Benton in his faith
in the truth of the statement. They as
sured him that If anybody else was har-
bored or hidden there he could not escape.
for they were ordered to prevent the occu-
pants from leaving, as well as to protect
the premises from harm.
AT o'clock. therefore, the young aid-de-
camp went his way not fully satisfied by
any means, but content to seek explana-
tion at corps headquarters and to investi-
gate further on his return. In point of fact
wv ftl1 70 ie 1f,tf
negatives in the matter and needed his
generals advice. He meant to tell him
just what he feared or suspected-that Paul
Ladue himself, in some unaccountable
manner, had become separated from his
regiment, possibly through illness or
wounds. and was concealed within the
shattered walls of the old Virginia farm
house. But just at the time when he most
needed the instructions of his own division
chief he was destined to be cut off from
him-and for many a day.
1t was after shutdown, and long after,
when at last, riding some miles at swift
trot, he overlook the corps commander
with his staff on the road beyond Center
vile. "Ah." said that soldierly leader,
1.-The general is prompt What time did he
start?'
start. sir?" said Benton, his heart beat
ing quick and hard again. 81 don't know.
] was instructed to deliver this letter and
to ask TO have these others sent on to
Washington by your courier tonight, but
i thought to find you west of Centerville,
not on the march. sir"
Then my orders had not arrived when
you lefte Why, what hour did you leave
sir?" and McDowells face Redeemed as il
would when he was annoyed.
About o'clock, general, but"
-Four O'Clock, sirl Then where on earth
have you been all this timer
II came by way of the Henry house to
look at the old battlefield, general We
had no idea of your moving and there was
plenty OF time before dark" answered poor
Fred. noting with much concern the omi-
nous silence of the listening staff and
orderlies
You must have stayed an uncomfortable
time there grumbled the general, who
had not yet ceased to feel touchy at any
mention of Bull Run the first (''Longer
than he did last July" laughed O'Kane, of
the Montgomerys, when told of it, "Ah,
1 remember. That pretty daughter of old
Chilton's is there. You saw her. I SUD-
poser"
Il suppose / did. general" was the rue
full answer. though she in no wise sought
to detaiE me. Quite the contrary"
'Well, Mr.. Benton, your division is
doubtless following by this time. and
should be across the run. My compliments
to the general. and say 1 will have his let
tiers forwarded. Now, don't get lost in the
woods on your way back
And thus summarily was the brief inter-
view ended, and the corps commander
with his staff rode on.
Now here was a plight for an aid-de-
camp! His tent and all his belongings
were with those of division Headquarters.
and would doubtless be taken care of by
the staff quartermaster, but where was he
to find his general-and how? Well he
knew the division in marching TO follow
or overtake the others of the corps-and
Kearnys Jersey brigade was just striding
by him at the moment-would probably
take the shortest road from the camps
about Manassas, would follow the winding
wood roads and cross Bull run at Black
burns or Mitchelfs ford, taking the hv
pothenuse of the triangle instead of the
long way around-the two adjacent sides
formed by the Sundley Springs and War
renton roads. Yet he had fully intended
TO be back at the Henry House before this
hour that found him still in saddle and
crowded off the highway-he and his or