The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-04
CHAPTER XIV.

was little TO do for the little left of the
Iron Brigade. Planted by W~adsworth at
the point of CUPS hill, 1t grimly watched
the movements of Ewell's men. it's old-time
antagonists, and when these gentry VEN
tured forth 10 feel their opponents, they
were received with due military honors
and sent back satisfied that the weak point
of the line was not there. Sore-hearted over
the loss of SO many cherished comrades,
yet confident that their valor had not been
vain, the survivors hung silently to their
assigned position, and awaited develop
ments- Many-most of them, indeed, slept
through that summer night like wearied
children, while the scattered corps, far to
the south and southeast, were toiling
through the soft moonlight. straining every
nerve to reach the field in time to meet
the foe on the morrow.
And, when that morrow came. Benton was
early in saddle and away to the left of the
line in hopes of tidings of their headquarters
wagcn-gone astray. as such wagons so
often would, with the mess and camp kits
OF the general and the staff, and as Han
cocks second corps came ~trudging in past
the Round Tops after their all-night march,
it was his good fortune to meet two old
time comrades, soldiers he swore by-Car-
yer, now serving with Hancock. 'the
superb" and Haskell, that prince of ad-
j%utants, now chief of division staff-and
through them he heard news that even in
the excitement of the afternoon and the
tremendous doings of the following day,
kept him perturbed in mind and sorely
troubled. He had never been reconciled TO
his treatment at the hands of the secre-
tary. He had never ceased chafing in spirit
over the wrongs he had been subjected to.
He realized that under existing conditions
nothing more than half-hearted acknowl-
edgment of error could be looked for, but
he had determined that the moment things
settled down and the department had time
to attend to something besides the mo-
mentous affairs of the nation, he would de-
mand justice or, as he was spunky enough
to say, give them something to pay for
the punishment already given to him.
Meantime he meant so TO conduct himself
in the field that there. at least, he should
stand above suspicion. Then through men
of weight he might secure attention TO his
case. And now both Wadsworth and Double
day had spoken in heartiest praise of his
behavior throughout that heroic battle of
the first day. So far so good. What he
longed for. on one hand, was a chance TO
square accounts WITH McI>lnnOn. Whdt he
hoped for, on another. was opportunity to
teach that disdainful girl how deeply she
had wronged, as well as afronted. him.
Passionately in love as he had been. it was
a new experience, or ne could never have
persuaded himself in his pride and anger
that her power over him was ended-that
her queendom was gone.
He would have known better had he had
time to analyze the chagrin and pain and
jealousy which possessed him all the long
hours that followed his morning talk with
these staff comrades of the Second Corps.
1t seems that three days before, on the
18th of June, while they of the Second were
pushing cautiously northward through
Maryland. on the right tank of the army,
they were made aware that a column of
cavalry was passing around them from the
-south-passing between them and Wash
ington-and that while they were swinging
through Uniontown. across a little branch
of the Monocacy. the cavalry were trot-
ting through Westminster, only five miles
from their flank. "Gregg's Division, of
course" said they who saw through glasses
the far-distant column. Gregg. not much!"
said Haskell, who had ridden out toward
Union Mills on a scout OF his own. Its
z otddAN Will iAS WiOlC O0Nht dlu uOl al
little of ours. He must have been helping
himself every mile of his way from the
Potomac" And this, indeed. proved to be
the case; for, as they lay in the fields about
Uniontown that night. there reached them
a rueful, crestfallen little party of officers.
gathered In by Stuart at the crossing of
the Baltimore pike. Two were field Off
GERS who from convalescent hospital were
striving to overtake their regiments; the
third was Major McKinnon, ordered to re-
port without delay to the commanding gen.
eral, Army of the Potomac; and McKinnon,
IL seems, had also been conYalescing in
Baltimore, but not from wounds. These
three, with their light luggage. had been
bounced upon at a wayside tavern by a
roistering troop of Stuart's fiankers, and
dragged before this cavalry commander,
who, seated on the porch of a pretty home
stead in the heart of the village. was watch
ing his booty-laden columns as they logged
on northward, and receiving the reports
of his scouts. One of these parties pre-
scented the three captured officers just as
another, represented by an eager subaltern,
was finishing his description of the Union
force about Uniontown. AT a gesture from
Stuart the young officer ceased and stood
in silence as. very courteously, Stuart in
vited his captives to be seated while an aid
took their names, regiments, ETC., and as
McKinnon gave his there was sudden sem
sation. The young cavalryman sprang for
ward, seized McKinnon's hand, shook it
effusively, and. TO the amaze of every one
present, exclaimed: General Stuart, 1 am
sure. sir, you will treat this gentleman with
every possible consideration. 1t was he,
sir, who so nobly defended my father at
Washington when Secretary Stanton would
have sent him to Fort Warren-and Rosa
lie, too. for that matter. 1t was Major Me-
Kinnon, sir, who pleaded their cause with
the secretary and had them returned to
Charlottesville. 1t was he, sir. who in other
ways most generously aided them"
81 am very glad to hear it. Jack" said
the bearded general, evidently warming to-
ward the Westerner who had so befriended
his kith and kin. 'Of course, you're-sure
Of it?"
Sure of il, sir ?-I had il from father
and Rosalie both, They had supposed that
they were indebted-or rather that their
helper was a very different person, a man
whom they had befriended; but that all
turned out TO be an error" And the up-
-. - I. III a-a1 cafJ II.-IoIl .s.L-.