Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-28
CHAPTER XIX.
Th

Thanksgiving, g. came a twelvemonth
later. The seat of war had shifted from
the upper Potomac to the peninsula, then
back again to Manassas plains, then up to
the Antietam, and now down to the lower
Rappahannock dense columns of blue and
gray were fastening to face each other in
battle lines along the heights that shell
tered Fredericksburg.
Chalmers old home lay in ashes, fired by
hostile hands long weeks before the coming
of the Union blue. The old servants were
scattered. The old name had been dragged
in the duSt-another judgment said Nine
Premier. Chalmers himself, with but the
remnant of his once ample fortune, had
been banished by physicians orders to Ha-
Vana. accompanied by his children and their
dutiful but not too sympathetic grandaunt.
John Winn had found in his first year as
a field officer far more of modification than
he could find compensation for in promo
ton to the lieutenant colonelcy. Stone
wall Jackson had tricked WINS generals
in the valley, again at Cedar Mountain
again at second Bull Rum and had hurled
their forces back with loss appalling on
the bloody field of Sharpsburg. new. re-
luctant leader had replaced the Little
Mac beloved of the soldiery if not of fate.
A bloodier battle still was promised here
along the wintry hillsides. and John Winn
wondered if the god of war could ever be
induced to smile upon the Army of the
Potomac
OF Blunt the versatile and of Edouard
Premier, his erstwhle employer. nothing
had been seen north of the Potomac since
the second coming of Chalmers to Wash
ington. There were officers on duty in the
War Department who, in old dragon days
and in the Mexican war. had known the
major we'll. They knew the value of his
word, and when he was brought to the
capital so many of Blunts claims and
stories were proved to be false that the
officials were al last convinced of his dou-
bic dealing. and therefore ordered his ar
rest wherever found Blunt now dared ven-
ture nowhere northw"fd, and even In the
south some eyes We're partly opened, for
he and Premier had parted company. Blunt
had lost caste with both sections.
At Brookside, too, the shadow of despOnd
had fallen. Dallas, stanch friend and kins-
man. had been sent to New Orleans, where
his talents and ability were winning recog-
milton under a commander who, despite
Objectionable qualities. at least knew merit
when he saw it, and stinted not his reward.
Agatha I,angdon had been dropping VlSiDly
ever since the startling episode of that Sep
TENDER visitation. Alice had been half-
hearted only in her sympathy and minis
trations. and Mrs Langdon, troubled that
they should be troubled, had now grave
reason to be troubled on her own account.
This too when there was no devoted
brother and skilled physician close at hand
to reassure and comfort
strange year had this been to lngra-
ham He and his benefactor were taken
to the War Department the morning Of their
arrival in Washington. and there class
mate of the mai ors gave them cordial well
come and there they were questioned by
the war secretary himself Chalmers asked
that he might be excused from giving In
formation of any kind. he being Firginian
as well as a non-combatant. and Mr.. Cam
eron could not insist; but Ingraham'S mar
ratfve was taken down, and, so far from
being sent to join his troop, he was hidden
tc remain with Maj. Chalmers, for whom
most comfortable quarters had been found
and who stood much in need of rest and
professional care.
Then, later. old friends and comrades
focked to see him. and OF such times 1t
seemed to delight Chalmers to present his
comrade as 1.-The log-carrier Of the -th cav
airy" to generals and field officers one of
whom vas Maj. Wallis, and Wallis knew
him instantly and gave him hearty welcome
and did himself no good by declaring in
presence of other officers the sentence of
the court absurd.
The week following Ingrahams arrival he
was surprised by the receipt of a ten-day
furlougn with permission to visit the city
OF New York. He had money enough for
the pur pose. Chalmers was in excellent
hands, and so without first. going to pay
his respects at Brookside. our trooper took
the night train and. with the morrow S
dawn. was tramping up to the Aston House
for breakfast. The lawyers offices were
away down town, and the men he most
needed to see were Watson and Ned Burn
ham.
| The first named was eagerly waiting and
seemed reJoiced to welcome him. Together