The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-17
THE IRON BRIGADE
AsT0RY OF THE ARMY OF TIE POTOMAC

was saying: You must not discredit my
repoht, sub. by looking so much alive as
you do at this moment. / represented your
case, sub, as one requiring constant atten-
tion-otherwise you might have had TO go
to Richmond"
And so for a day or two these pleasan-
~tries-these courtesies OF war prevailed.
Then all of Johnston's men remaining
north Of the Rappahannock came drifting
in before a new forward move Of the Union
force along the railway. Howard's strong
division of Summers corps swept out in
reconnaissance, even as the bulk of Nc
Clellan's army was being directed on Alex
andria for the now Inevitable swing to the
Peninsula, between the York and the
James-full details of the gathering of
every kind Of bay and river craft reaching
Johnston quite as speedily as they did New
York. So that skilled soldier withdrew
still further to the line Of the Rapidan,
where he could be nearer Richmond in case
of need.
Then. when Banks should have come
down from the Shenandoah and covered"
Washington, up sprang that restless,
watchful. prayerful Virginia leader. jack
son, and so stirred the situation in the val
ley that Banks and his men had to hurry
back through the mountain passes, and
further delays and complications arose be-
fore April set in and Mcclellan could sail
for Fortress Monroe, and in all the hustle
and excitement, the rumors flying hither
and yon, the marching to and fro of cav
airy and 1eet-footed infantry. II happened
that for a full fortnight DR.. Chiffon and
his patients, nurse, guard and all had set
tied down to something like peace and
physical comfort at coy, homelike old
Charlottesville. and no man sought serious
ly to hamper or disturb them. From
Gainesville DR.. ;Chilton had penned a letter
to be sent through the lines. notifying the
commanding general OF the Union force
along Bull run of Benton's capture after
gallant effort 30 cut his way through, in
the course Of which he was quite painfully,
though not dangerously, wounded-that he
was in good hands and would be well cared
for-and this news-a great relief-was
promptly transmitted to Fred's general and
by him telegraphed to the far Western
home. TIL squire was both proud and
distressed. but Elinor. his fair daughter,
never dreaming that Paul Ladue was one
Of the little corps of faithful friends and
attendants. could find no comfort whatso-
ever. What would she nave thought could
her straining eyes have pierced the inter-
vening mountsfn ranges, the long sweep of
rolling hills Beyond the Ohio, the wooded
flats and boundless p~rairies, and peeped in
from the shores of Michigan upon that
vin%e-covered %trellis, among the blossoms
and buds now bursting into view on every
side and rejoicing in the warm April sun
shine Of far Virginia?
On a weIl-m8de stretcher lay the central
figure of household and local interest, Lieu
tenant Jack Chiffon. slowly but surely
mending of his serious wounds and gaining
health, strength and spirits with every day.
And who wouldn't under similar infu-
ences?-for two fair young daughters of the
old commonwealth WED with each other in
assiduous effo-.. to entertain the trooper
invalid-two tonny, winsome lassies in
their teens. both trimming over with hero
worship and enthusiastic faith and love for
every Virginia. to be found afield. Lovely
were they botlE these cousins of the blood,
and most carefully had they been chosen
for this special duty by their acknowledged
leader, chief of the little clan of kinswomen
that dwelt among the wooded hills of Able
marie and Fh'vanna. Brilliant, beautiful
and daring, wlso of their brave order could
lay claim to leadership so long as Resale
cared to hold IL? They followed and obeyed
her eagerly, nyally. though in years she
was but eightaen, and five. at least, Of the
Sacred Band were her seniors. Ever since
the days of SHIRT dresses. braids and pima
fores she had been dominant among them.
fearless In acn and speech-a little tyrant
Of the freside,: ruling her father almost as
with a rod of iron, domineering over the
colored retinuf Of the kitchen, stable and
household. anof alternately, laughing. coax
ing, storming hnd wheedling out of every
e1ort at restraint, or self-assertion, the
gentle-mannerf1 Virginia dame-the doc
tors only sis Sor-who, almost ever since
the year of R4salie's birth. had striven to
supply the plaie of the sweet young moth
er, who droopad and died before her babe
had learned toflisp the word she so longed
to hear. TomSoy had they called Resale
at ten, for she9could ride any horse within
miles of Ch3rlottesville, and preferred
walking stills. Flying kites or running races
to the customary allurements of girlhood
She had one ellyy, one champion, one idol
her brother, hHrely two years her senior
and apparently but one sorrow-that she
could not do Everything that Jack could
and not for laf X of trying.
Then, as thef both grew older and other
girls brothers Eoegan showing hitherto un.
suspected fondfaess for Jacks society, and
coming to see Jim at all hours Of the day,
and other gir{ themselves began making
eyes at Jack, fher Indifference to the first
and her fury a the second were comical &c
see. Jack, fi his part, took it not amiss
that Kate Fal3pner and Georgia Scott and
Belle Brinton 3hould show appreciation OF
his physical Afts and graces, and could
not understanCait in Rosalie that she should
become so sud' enly discursive about Hates
freckles and r4i hair, Georgia's dumpy fig.
ure and BelleS multitudinous afectations
She was forev4 finding excuse to ride over
to the 'varsitytafter Jacks matriculation-
not, as other girls declared, that she might
see and be seed by other youths, but simply
from longing ftr Jack-and then. when tho
war came on ind Virginia sprang to arms
and Jack to 3ddle and his first commits.
sion In Jeb Starts famous First Cavalry
she was all are with fervor and parrio-
tism on the Oh hand and of mad jealousy
of Maud Pelhsf1 on the other, for on Maud
had Jack cast Savoring eyes.
And so, WIFI she brought her brother
home to nurse and pet and coddle to her
. hearts contenf while she was all soothing