The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-21
THE IRON BRIGADE
A STORY OF the ARMY OF THE POTOMAC

was Daniel? Daniel had to go back to
Marse Chilton's. Miss Rosalie done fixed
all dat"
And SO, while Benton drank huge tin
Of steaming coffee and ate hungrily at the
rashers and "aigs" provided for him, his
new attendant explained the situation For
years he had belonged to Marse Chiffon,
but when he married a lass on the Louns-
berry place, and by and by the chil'luns be-
gan to grow, Marse Chiffon found him of
less use than ever and snapped him off.
And then he'd been Marse Lounsberrys
coachman. and then was put in charge of
MarSe Pelhams "stawk." and finally he
and his old woman were moved up here
into the mountains to take care of the cat
tie of certain fanciers who had prudently
shifted their Jerseys and Ayrshires to the
hills rather than see them requisitioned by
commissariat that already had begun to
find its limitations in the matter of fresh
beef. His big boy Hector was "groomin'
hawses," and from this point would lead
him up on the east face of the range until
near the Hedgman. He knew that country
well, whereas old Dan did not, and the lat
ter had to hurry home so that he might
show about the Chiffon place as usual Miss
Rosalie had ordered that. too. They would
do anything in the world for her-or for
the doctor.
the gap road-Swift Run gap-before sun
up, and now twas long after, but Hector
knew the ridge and host of places to hide
If need be. Hector had sweetheart on
for whose sake more than thrice had he
run the gauntlet to her welcoming arms,
and so, once more, but in broad daylight
now. and we'll up along the heights, with
magnificent vistas of eastward Virginia al
most every hour, they came at last In
view of the twisting mountain road that
pierced the range-Jacksons runaway from
the Shenandoah down to ,Gordonsville-and
here again Fred lurked in hiding while
Hector scrambled down afoot to try the
pass
Thus far the danger had been slight. Be-
tween Rockfish and Swift Run gaps there
lay few roads through which scouting par
Powell's gaps were then but little used.
The Blue Ridge served as a screen or bar
rier their left. The line communica-
ton of the Southern army was far over
along the railway TO the east. Jackson and
his nimble- footed brigades We're still some
distance down the Shenandoah to the
north, but Hector had heard "od Stone
WALL was retiring before overwhelming
numbers, and that lot of his soldiers were
already at work over on the west side,
throwing up Notifications. and couriers
kept coming and going between him and
"Marse" Ewell down at 'Gawd nsville."
Benton still wore the uniform coat and
riding breeches in which he had been cap
tured, though a sleeve was slit and a Shout
der strap hal been ripped of. His forage
cap, too a jaunty affair of the Mcclellan
type, had been missing since the fight at
the stone house, and he was sporting
black, broad brimmed felt hat that had
done duty in Jack Chilton's university days.
Horse, horse equipments, Grimsley valse,
and all items attached TO the saddle, OF
course, were gone, but he still had his field
glass. pair of the doctors old saddle
bags slung on his horse seemed bullying
with sundries he had not yet had time TO
inspect. A blanket and poncho, treasure
trove" of Manassas the first, were strapped
on the spare horse, together with a canteen
marked L. s., and that canteen Hector had
replenished at a mountain stream only an
hour. agone. With their bits slipped and
their fore feet hoppled the horses were
placidly browsing among the bushes close
at hand, and there for over an hour this
sunshiny April morning, the lonely Union
soldier watched and waited, and over and
again marveled at the generalshp of the
girl who had managed every detail con-
nected with his escape. Only that one
evening did she have in which TO prepare,
yet saddle bags were secured and packed,
blanket and poncho provided, horses Dor
rowed" by Black Dan. with the connivance
If a colored retainer, from the Pelham pas
ture, within pistol shot of the varsity
grounds Ito take their own would have lent
90 much color to the theory that the doc
sor connived), their very route mapped out
md determined. and all this by a Virginia
Maid yet in her teens, already the planner
If perilous midnight masquerade, the OBJ
ect of which was still wrapped i'm torment
ng mystery.
If she would but condescend-if he could
)ut induce her 10 account for that. what
night 1t not mean to Benton? Only once
had he ventured to begin to suggest that