Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-10-27
CHAPTHER XII.
OI1Eh1 ZAIIs
"IN TIE TEETH OF THE BRIGADE

AA< AIiC ALE1 n Of The Bli1GADE.
Once more the Badger Hoosier bri-
gade was swinging away southwest
ward. For the sixth time in less than
year the men of the BLACK Hats"
at the head OF column had picked their
way over the stone-ribbed pike, saying
opprobious things of Virginia path
masters. An impudent lot were these
fellows in the imitation "kossuths."
Marye1ously snappy and precise in
drill, steady on parade, enduring on
the march and reasonably respectful
toward their officers (who were the
only ones in the division to don and
hab1tually wear the fulldress headgear
OF the regular service), the rank and
file were blessed with not a little
soldier skepticism as to the value or
stability of other commands in and out
OF the brigade, and a calmly critical
attitude toward officers other than
those of their selection. They had not
been over well content with their
original field and staff, and, for lack of
leaders of that rank, had become some.
what split up at first Bull Run, fight
ing sturdily all the same by company
or squad to the flag end, and never
knowing they were whipped when
finally "herded" off the field. Now,
however, they had men at their head
colonel. lieutenant-colonel and major
by whom they positively swore and
on whose skill and valor they would
have banked their last cent. Yet, with
all their regard for these, their hon
ored leaders, it must be owned the
Black Hats gave them lots of trouble.
They would guy the rest of the brigade
and lord it generally over the whole
division, only one other regiment of
which had as yet faced the foe in
battle. They had curious defect of
vision when Outside" officers happened
along, and were forever being COM
planned Of as failing to render honors,"
whereat they were heard on more than
one occasion unblushingly to declare
they saw, but didn't suppose the strang-
ers could be officers They were pre-
ternaturally keen sighted as sentriea
toward men Of other regiments run
ming guard" or smuggling contraband
OF war, and were correspondingly blind
when the culprit was of their own
complexion. They were probably the
best drilled and positively the worst
hated regiment in the whole division
and relished enc distinction quite
as much as the other-whcn they were
marching this third time on Manassas
and the little West Pointer In saddle
at their head thanked God that at last
he had them where, with work against
common foe, there was possibility
of keeping them out of mischief.
Centreville had been passed, Bull
Run recrossed, and Bristoe reached
a point beyond their previous explo-
rations. Then back had they to go
TO meet threatened raid on their
railway communications, and, that
matter settled, again they were trudg-
Ing through the well-remembered
wood roads when. as turn of this
way brought their foremost company
in full view of the fine sweep of
country off to the west, the gray
bearded colonel for the time COM
manding the brigade, refined out to
the right for look at his men, and
his tall, bocn-soldier Of an adiutant
rode alongside the black-bearded, dark
featured. stocky little leader of the
Black Hats. pointed with his gaunt-
letted hand to the blue curtain Of tho
Bull Run range and remarked: "I'd
give good deal to know just what
that fellow Jackson's doing behind
that screen to-day"
Why SOP asked O'Connor, shortly.
Shields licked him we'll at Kerns-
town. Banks has turned his whole
force back there. Blenker's big divi-
sion has gone to reinforce them, Why,