Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-10-18

ing there?" the Virginian had an an
swer equally prompt and dignified.
Her brother, lieutenant in Stuarts
cavalry, had been accidently shot BY
the ptckets the dark night of March
4th, had been left with an attendant at
the Thornton place across Bull Run,
too badly wounded to be moved when
Johnson fell back from Manassas, had
bribed his friends to send him away
In cart when he heard of the union
advance, and cart and contents had
Averells-before they reached Manas-
sas. The wounded boy, delirious with
fever, was even now lying in the room
his sister guarded. DR.. Alexander, of
Gen. McDowell's staff, had twice been
to see him. DR.. Chiffon had come,
bringing his devoted daughter, and
then gone on to Fairfax in hopes Of
obtaining from Gen. Mcclellan permits
sion to take his son home on parole.
by slow stages, to Charlottesville, and
Miss Chiffon meanwhile remained there
under what was left of roof, and what
he, Mr.. Henry could offer by way of
care and protection. Brief conference
with the guard without did much to
confirm Benton in his faith in the truth
of the statement. They assured him
that if anybody else was harbored or
hidden there he could not escape, for
they were ordered to prevent the oc,
cupants from leaving, as well as to pro,
tect the premises from harm.
At five o'clock, therefore, the young
aide-de-camp went his way, not fully
satisfied by any means, but content to
seek explanation at corps headquarters
and to investigate further on his re.
turn. In point Of fact he was doubt
full as to his duties and prerogatives
in the matter and needed his generals
advice. He meant to tell him just what
he feared or suspected-that Paul
Ladue himself, in some unaccountable
manner had become separated from his
regiment, possibly through illness or
wounds, and was concealed within the
| shattered walls of the old Virginia
| farmhouse. But, just at the time when
he most needed the instructions Of his
own division chief, he was destined to
be cut off from him-and for many
day.
1t was after shutdown, and long after,
when at last, riding some miles at
swift trot, he overlook the corps COM
mander with his staff on the road
beyond Centreville. "Ah," said that
soldierly leader, "the general is prompt.
Nho& Lo ,to 49,
Start, sir?" said Benton, his heart
beating quick and hard again. II don't
know. was instructed to deliver this
letter and to ask to have these others
sent on to Washington by your courier
tonight, but thought to find you west
of Centreville, not on the march, sir"
"Then my orders had not arrived
when you left? Why, what hour did
you leave, sir?" and McDowell's face
Redeemed as it would when he was an
noyed.
about four o'clock, general, but
-Four o'clock, sir! Then where on
earth have you been all this time?"
II came by way of the Henry house
to look at the old battlefield, general.
We had no idea of your moving, and
there was plenty of time before dark"
answered poor Fred, noting with much
concern the ominous silence of the
listening staff and orderlies.
"You must have stayed an uncon-
scionable time there" grumbled the
general, who had not yet ceased to feel
touchy at any mention of Bull Run the
First. ("Longer than he did last July"
laughed O'Kane, of the Montgomery's,
when told Of it, "Ah, I remember.
That pretty daughter of old Chilton's
is there. You saw her, suppose?"
Il suppose did, general" was the
rueful answer, though she in no wise
sought to detain me. Quite the con-
trary."
We'll, Mr.. Benton, your division Is
doubtless following us by this time,
and should be across the Run. My
compliments to the general and say I
will have his letters forwarded. Now,
don't get lost In the woods on your
way back"
And thus summarily was the brief
Interview ended, and the corps COM
mander with his staff rode on.
Now here was a plight for an aide
de-camp! His tent and all his belong
ings were with those of division head
quarters and would doubtless be taken
care of by the staff quartermaster, but
where was he to find his general-and
how? Well he knew the division in
marching to follow or overtake the
Others of the corps-and Kearney's
Jersey brigade was just striding by
him at the moment-would probably
take the shortest road from the camps
about Manassas, would follow the
winding wood roads and cross Bull
Run at Blackburn's or Mitchells Ford,
taking the hypothenuse of the triangle
instead of the long way around-the
two adjacent sides formed by the Sud-
ley Springs and Warrenton roads, Yet
he had fully intended to be back at
the Henry house before this hour that
found him still in saddle and crowded
off the highway-he and his orderly
both beginning to get hungry and their
I