Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-11-15
CHAPTER xxv-(Continued.)

between the twilight of the second
OF July that witnessed Ewell's bloody
assault and the dawning of that black
Friday of the Lost Cause.-The third
day-something had happened to give
new heart to Jackson's old men, The
Stonewall' brigade was there still in
the woods in the low ground between
the rocky point, where crouched the
survivors of Wadsworth's division, and
the forest-covered heights off to the
eastward, where cavalry guidons-
union cavalry-had been flashing in the
last rays of the setting sun. Some
where in the dim fields there was stir
and excitement even in the wearied
bivouacs Of Ewell; and, under the
starlight, eager to satisfy his generals
restless desire to know what it all
meant, Fred Benton had crept out to
the front
The word has gone the rounds, to
the joy of every soldier heart, that
the new commander meant to stand
and fight, and If Lee could muster no
more men than these already thrown
in, he might hammer the lines in vain.
gades would but stay lost, so that no
fear need be felt for the far right
flank. all would indeed be well!
But would Stuart stay lost? Could
he have got SO far away as not to
he found and by this time returned to
the army; and when he came, would
ut not be from the north, and thus
bring him in on the very flank they
were now defending? Tired as he was
Benton could not sleep for thinking
of the disclosures made through Has
kell.
Alone and afoot, after word with
his gray-haired chief, he slipped out
and away to the Baltimore pike. This
he followed southeasterly nearly half
mile, greeted occasionally by low
toned challenge Of sentry; but other
officers were hurrying swiftly to and
fro, and there was little detention. As
early as three o'clock he found himself
following patrol down rocky path
way toward the creek, and, learning
from outlying sentry there that no
force seemed to be in his immediate
front-only a few pickets-Benton ex-
planned that he wished to crawl out far
enough to be beyond the sound of
trampling hoof and rumbling wheel at
the pike, that he might listen the bet
ter. And, creeping from bush to bush
to avoid the moonlit spaces, less than
half an hour before dawn he had sue
ceeded in gaining fully 400 yards out
toward the northeast, and there low
voices warned him to lie still and
listen. He was either on or within the
confederate picket line, and had much
to learn and little time.
And then, as he crouched close to
the trunk of a spreading tree, faint
and sweet soft yet stirring, so far out
to the north that the performer doubt
less thought it beyond the range of
inimical ears, cavalry trumpet began
to sound the martial reveille, stirring
some nearby watcher to remonstrance.
Damn that internal dash-dashed
idiot" stormed low, half-choked
voice. Hell tell the whole dash
dashed Yankee army our fellows have
come! Go back there, sergeant, and
tell our trumpter if he dares to toot
horn I'll murder him"
Then somebody rustled off through
the bushes, and somebody else spoke.
Some of Hampton's crowd, l reckon.
How long'd the general want us to stay
out hyuh?"
It'll Ewell attacks at dawn. Then
we'll mount and look out for Gregg.
! His people are out here to the east of
us. Stuart'H get after them, you bet,
as soon as it's light
We haven't got a horse that can
more'n stagger. All worn out, I tell
you," protested the second voice.
No more'n theirs are. Jennings met
us back there on the Hanover pike.
and I heard him tell Fitz Lee Gregg's
horses were all played out"
Jennings be damned" broke in
third voice, impetuously, and Benton
started at the sound. It was Chilton's
beyond shadow Of doubt. Chiffon
again with his old regiment, and these
with him were doubtless officers of
Fitz Lees brigade, scouting, probably,
well in front of the cavalry lines, yet
proving that Stuart was there at last,
and could be counted on to make
things lively in the morning. 1t was
high time to slip back and give warn
ing, but getting back was slow and
tedious-even perilous work. The
dawn was breaking when, in bedrag-
gled garb, Benton found his gray head
ed general in the circle about the COM
mander. Before Benton had time to
whisper half his explanation, Wads-
worths tired eyes famed with eager
light
Here's the very news to prove it,
general" he cried. Capt. Benton, of
my staff, is just in from that front
Stuart is there and Ewell means to at
tack"
How do you know Stuart is there?"
demanded Meade, whirling sharply on
the young officer The most courteous
and polished of gentlemen at other
times, Meade was irascible in the ex-
IRENE in battle.
II heard voices, sir-one that well