Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-11-10


 far from Matthias Point. Two of the party were still at large. Arrests of suspected civilians had been made, both in Washington and Baltimore. and certain secret service officials had been summarily discharged by order of the secretary, as being unworthy, to hold positions of such trust and responsibility
 Stanton is terror" said Freds informant, staff officer. just from Washington. God help the man that has to bump up against Stanton just nowl"
 I 1t was now some 36 hours after Freds serious difference with his di- ! vision commander. He had sent an urgent appeal to his old general to be set free from further contact with these things he almost loathed. He looked for answer within the week, and. tak~ ing advantage of the permission, cold ly accorded him by the chief of staff, t to be absent over night, he had gone, heavy-hearted. to his old friends of the Iron Brigade, and sought at their hands the sympathy and consolation to be expect l of men who had themselves
 
 frigid where once it had been so fair. And it was here, on Thursday morning, | while breakfasting with the genial commander of the Black Hats and lis- tening to his philosophic advice to "take things coolly'' and that "all would come right" he was surprised by the coming of a cavalry orderly, splashed with mud, who bore a missive addressed by the adjutant-general of the division and marked Immediate" With word of apology to Col. Fair child and his officers, Benton tore it open, and two papers fell out, One read:
 Capt. Benton: Enclosed just re- ceived. The general says you better come this way where the necessary orders will meet you, and you can get what luggage you need There will be steamers going all the evening. 1 "(Signed) BREWSTER, A. A. G." | The second was a telegram to the commanding general, --th division, l --th corps. and bore the singular re-. l semblance to one received on almost the same ground some seven months 1 previous:
 l Secretary of War desires to see Capt. Benton of your staff at once. Take first boat. Intermediate com manders notified. No delay. IL. THOMAS. Adjutant-G General" "Well, well,'' said the colonel, they l have been prompt! You can get to Acquia by noon can't you?" l Mot if he goes back by way of Old Scoffers,'' remarked a field officer, though fully. Fred, don't you imagine 1 the chief wants to smooth things bit l before you tell Stanton all about it?"
 Don't go back, Benton. Just let him sweat. It'll make him more civil 1 another time," began an impetuous comrade, but stopped short at sight of the cloud in Benton's eyes, the anx- | ious look in the coloneps fine, clearcut, soldierly face. It was the latter who spoke again, and without interruption. 1 for already he had won the faith of even such martial iconoclasts as the ! Black Hats. This means something more than mere difference due to i'll temper said he. "You are wanted for purpose, Benton. It is-about ! Ladue, do you think?''
 Fred had already risen. T shouldn't l be surprised" he answered, thinking uncontrollably of the words of his Washington informant, God help the man that has to bump up against Stan ton just now!"
 l Yet he rode back to headquarters and, surely enough, found his chief there, chafing and Suspicious. Whats Stanton want of you?'' he blurted out. You haven't-You didn't-make a row about what said Monday night. I did you? We were all cross-grained then, and didn't happen to think you had to look me up and so-got lost.'' T have certainly written to a friend at Washington asking for other duty. sir" said Benton firmly, though his an- ger had vanished and given place l to sadness and anxiety. T did not get lost, however. I obeyed orders, and under similar circumstances should do so again.
 I've told you didn't understand the matter at the time or shouldn't have said, perhaps. what did, broke in Old Scoffer, both hurt and troubled. If you're going to start in on yous army career with the idea that you're never going to get hauled over the coals. you've mistaken your profes- sion." Scoffer knew he had been in the wrong. He wanted to undo the wrong. He simply didn't know how, and Benton wouldn't help him. l And so they parted enemies, if any thing, and, preceded by the story of Old Scoffers vehement assertion, en- Iarged, of course. in transit, that he "had more friends in the south than in the army" Benton reported the following day at the war department, and was shown into the presence of the angering secretary.
 It was dull December morning. It followed close on the heels of dire | disaster; and. with the stories rush Ing in upon him of contention, dis; loyalty, and disruption at the front, the Iron Secretary was stung and