Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-10-22

saw the genial doctors little party
entratned at the Rappahannock.
Scores of sympathetic fellows in con-
federate gray surrounded the car to
which Lieut.. Chiffon was borne and
into which Fred Benton, his arm in a
sling and his head still in bandages.
was carefully guided. For reasons not
then made known to his Yankee pa-
tient, the doctor persisted in treating
his case as far more serious than con.
dltlons seemed to warrant. Constant
~ he strove to impress upon Benton
the necessity of lying still and speak
ing as little as possible. Rosalie, too.
was forever holding up a tapering
finger in warning and pursuing her soft,
rosy lips in very significant. "hush"
when he ventured to ask questions or
show disposition to stir. Otherwise
she had but little to say to him. and
our wounded Badger boy had enjoyed
the doubtful bliss Of watching her
hour after hour during the long wait
at the Junction, hanging about her
suffering brother, or with softly flush
ing cheek, talking in low, eager tons
to Paul Ladue, whose melancholy ewes
fairly frightened. 1t had been settled
that he should leave them at Gordon
vile and return to the front, but at the
Rappahannock his own colonel bearded
the train and, noticing at once how i'll
and worn he looked. talked with him
kindly, sympathetically, awhile, and
then went off to see their division gem
eral, soon to be so famous as corps
commander. In ten minutes they were
both there, the one tall, martial, and
with his long, flowing beard looking
more like a hero of Norseland or war
rior of Aiminius than soldier Of the
cavalier south. Even then, before the
wrinkles and crows feet had dug deep
about the outer corners of Longstreet's
eyes, queer little lines would play about
them and his bearded lips when hui.
morous fancy struck him, and kindly
humor seemed never to be far from
that genial face until the bitter day
that cost him Pickett's grand and de-
voted division in Hancock's front at
Gettysburg.
Il looked to see you in uniform, Miss
Chiffon" said he, "and l have yet to
learn by what authority you have dis
carded the gray. And this, believe,
is the young gentleman you were per-
sonating?" whereat he shook hands
very kindly with the shrinking subal-
tern and thought how very near alik
they were in stature. Colonel Moore
tells me you are far too i'll to resume
duty just yet, Mr.. Ladue, so 1 am
going to take the responsibility of bid
ding you go back to Charlottesville for
week of Miss Chilton's care. All,
doctor, I'm glad to see you" And then
two very distinguished Virginians were
shaking hands; but all Fred Benton
could see of it was the backs OF SUBJ
ordinate officers clustered about him.
They went presently and spoke with
young Chiffon lying on his mattress
along the tops of the seats, then came
straight to the lonely ofIicer-the only
one in blue, reclining toward the rear
end Of the long vehicle, the object Of
much silent curiosity but no intrusion
whatsoever, and to the prisoner Long
street spoke as couretously as to the
princess holding her little court in mid
car, bidding him be of good cheer.
DR. Chiffon has told us, sir, of your
protecting him from indignity at Cen
treyille, and of all the Kindness you
did him that night, resulting in your
capture. We cannot afford" and here
the blue-gray eyes twinkled and the
half-hidden lips twitched whimsically.
ito let so good a soldier get right back
to business. Neither can we send SO
chiyalric foe to Libby-at least so
long as he is wounded as you are.
Therefore, DR.. Chiffon, you will see to
his having hospital accommodations,
and now, we must have suitable
guard" And here the tall general
Strengthened up, studied earnestly this
circle Of soldier faces about him until
the twinkling eyes rested on the very
sweet and rosy features of the one
damsel present. Then briefly and in
official tone, he finished. Miss Chill
ton, appoint you, until further orders.
custodian of Lieut.. and Aide-de-C Camp
Benton, of the federal army"
Verify, as Benton wrote at the time,
these were the halcyon days of the war.
before ever it had become the grim
and deadly earnest they were to know
SO bitterly and SO very soon. The car
was cleared Of all save passengers, the
train was started before he could find
words with which to thank the courtly
southern general, and the doctor, bend.
ing over him, was saying, you must
not discredit my repoht, sub, by look
ing SO much alive as you do at this
moment. represented your case, sub,
as one requiring constant attention,
otherwise you might have had to go
to Richmond"
And so for day or two these
Observation-Disclosures courtesies of war
prevailed. Then all of Johnston's men
remaining north of the Rappahannock
,auio drifting in before new forward
move of the union force along the rail-
way. Towards strong division of
Summers corps swept out in reconnais-
1 n.