The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-06
CHAPTER XVIII.
SURRENDER.

WOUNDS received Dy Major LOunsberry was
in itself sufficient to end the earthly career
OF even 4 stronger man. Two days after
Benton found him that fever was gone, but
SO was the last atom OF his strength. Those
two days he tossed IN delriurn watched by
one unhappy but devoted girl and that
faithful old nanny, and visited at such In
tervals as her own failing strength would
permit by his heart-broken mother Word
of his peril had reached Charlottesville
soon after the sharp fight at Smokers Gap.
Early's retreating force had striven to
bring him along, but, between the torment
caused him by the jolting of the ambu-
lance and the persistent attacks OF Union
cavalry. they had had TO leave him by
the way. Mrs. Lounsberry and the venerable
rector OF their church started within six
hours OF the receipt of the news. by which
time all Charlottesville had heard of it, and
almost the first to come to the stricken
mother was the girl her son had wronged.
a strange meeting was that, and stranger
etili was one but half an hour later when
Rosalie Chiffon appeared, and two Virginia
girls who had not exchanged a word since
the frst days of the war, and neither of
whom had been a visitor at the Louns-
berrys' fer many a moon, buried their diff
1erenccs with that sorrow-laden mother,
and set their own quarrel aside that they
might be of service to- her and to a soldier
OF the South in the hour of such affiiction.
Moreover * was in DR.. Chilton's old car
riaGe. with DIR. Chlton's old horses and
driven by Black Dan, that the journey to
tho distant front was made. This was no
time TO speak of the cruel things said by
the Lounsberrys Of DR.. Chiffon and Rosalie
after Benton's escape. The grave had closed
over the proud, impetuous head of that now
doubly bereaved household. I'll fortune had
followed the fathers death. and much of his
little estate had been sold under the ham,
mer. Small comfort had the handsome
prodigaI proved himself at that or any
other time, but much had he promised as
the result Of his approaching marriage
There had been memorable interview be-
tween the mother and that wronged and
trusting girl when at last Maud Pelham's
forebodings were realized. There had in
fact been a violent scene, for Mrs. Louns-
berry had sought to shield her son and at
Maud's expense. But that, too, was all ig-
nored now The other engagement had
been broken summarily two weeks after
Yellow Tavern, for one of Wade Hampton's
staff sent home wounded, had told at
Charleston how Floyd Pelham had struck
Lounsberry and why. There had been weeks
in which Maud Pelham would have met
Lounsberry only with scorn and contempt,
but that was before his comrades sent him
TO Coventry. and never again after news of
his serious wound. Though all Charlottes-
willie knew that he had been false TO her.
she went to his mother the instant she
heard the tidings. and with her on the
anxious journey that followed.
They were searching the impoverished lit
tie village under the heights, hoping some
where to find ice to allay that burning
fever when the sight of blue-jacket cavalry
sent them back and Benton followed. They,
who over and again had forgotten and for
given the sins OF the stricken man, were
amazed when, early next morning,
federal officer drove over from the distant
camps beyond the foaming Shenandoah
and unloaded at their humble doorway. not
the expected and hated guards, but box
of ice, packed in sawdust. and certain sup
plies from the commissariat. Then, while
a brace of soldiers were attending to these.
a gifted young physician on Sheridan's
staff was graveIy studying the tossing pa
tient Nor did charity end here-but details
are unnecessary. The mother accepted all
with wondering and fearful gratitude, and
almost hopeless girl with humbled and
Borrowing spirit and even the doomed SOL
der himself, when consciousness returned.
was too weak to resent or to refuse, and
SO childlike and broken that he could only
bury his haggard face in the poor mothers
breast and sob out the story of his shame
and contrition.
II was through Sheridan's lines and Ben
tons help they bore him away to his last
resting place when the solemn struggle was
over 1t was at Charlottesville again that
Maud Pelham and Rosale met beside the
grave and that later, on her knees, her
face buried in the lap of the once i'm
perious queen, a poor, humbled. heart
broken girl sobbed out in turn her own sad
story and Lounsberry's confession, little
dreaming that it would send still another
to her knees. praying not alone for mercy
for the repentant dead. not alone for the
rescue, the safety, of beloved brother,
but even for heavens blessing on an enemy
to Virginia and the sacred cause.-the SOL
der she had cruelty wronged-
"He's past prayin' for. bedad!" said the
captain of the Montgomerys. of Benton.
about this time-the captain and most of
his men being at home on veteran furlough.
''Ould Stanton's got the DEVILS own grudge
agin him for turnin' up in time to spoil a
hangin'-aH on account Ladue that's
dead. III was nafdly 1eucltOuS, yet
surely n concise way of settling the story
AT time during his incumbency was the
great war secretary in so evil a mood as
during that summer of GA. Grant and Sher-
man had both pushed southwark In the face
OF furious fighting, yet gold had scared to
flights hitherto unknown-so had the list
of casualties-and a great political party,
having pronounced the war failure set
perhaps the greatest failure of the war at
the head OF their ticket and started a cam
paign TO down the President beloved
of the people. Then the conduct of
affairs in the field had slipped from
Stantons hands. A greater than Halleck
or he was now in calm. masterfuI imper-
turha bic control, while the head of the De-
partment OF War had perfOrce TO be con-
tent with managing matters at the rear
where it must be owned. enemies were al
most as active as over the line. Many a
military head he hit that summer and fall
--summarily Diminishing even regulars with
out the form OF trial-sometimes impris-
oning suspects without sign OF a war
rant sometimes sending whole families into
exile. and all times being as overcharged
with explosive shock a bullying thunder
cloud sailing in search of object at which
TO launch a bolt. The illimitable humor