Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-10-27


alive-Jackson and ALL"
First catch your rabbit" said the
adjutant, musingly "Old Stonewall
knows every footpath in the valley
every path through the mountains.
He'll trick Banks and Fremont, sure's
| your born, colonel. Then we'll have a
shy at him."
MAY the Lord grant it." was the
| pious answer, as the colonel looked
wistfully away toward the little rift
in the dark ridge where, ten miles dis
tant lay Thoroughfare Gap, the best
and shortest route to the Shenandoah
the gap through which four months
| later this same much-discussed and as
| yet little-known Jackson was with such
fatal effect to pour his columns on the
| union flank and rear.
| 1t was moist afternoon. The men
| in the marching column, heavily bur-
| dened with bullying knapsack and
| double blanket and the long Springfield
| over their burly shoulders, whipped
| off their hats and swept the coat
sleeve over their dripping brows, peer
ing curiously at the old colonel sitting
sturdily in saddle and watching their
array. A grim. smile stole over his
grizzlsd face as his own battalion came
striding forth in the wake Of the
'Scotiing Second Then the kindly
eyes clouded with something like dis
pleasure at sight of a tall lanky civil.
ian on decrepit gray, riding with the
Northumberland commanding. He
mad seen the man before many mile
from the spot and more than a week
away. "How came you here?" he
asked, as the civilian ambled out of the
column and touched his worn hat
hrim.
my place is just over yahnduh,
colonel. P'haps you doan' remember
my comm to you with a pass back
O. Fairfax" and the tall stranger
looked confidently into the grizzled,
sun-burned face. "Been in to Alexan-
dria, yo' know, for supplies. Wagon
went sho'ht cut by stone bridge"
Keenly studying the veterans face,
he suddenly added: "Ain't Col. Bay
ards cavalry out there?"
"Ask me no questions, my friend,
and I'll tell you no lies" was the wary
answer. Gen. McDowell's pass COM
pels me to let you ride along with the
column, but doesn't require me to post
you as to our movements. You know
too much now to be travelling toward
Jackson's people, and-have you shown
that pass to the division commanders"
"Why, it was he who got it for me-"
answered the Virginian, placidly. "It
was l that took him Lieut.. Benton's
pistol and told him of his capture.
What's more, I'm 'specting to get fur
Their news Of the lieutenant Why,
hyuh comes the general now, and f
you don't mind, colonel, l reckon I'll
ride with him a piece"
Graybeard glanced half angrily over
his shoulder. A few yards north of
the road there was barren little emil
nence, on the crest of which there had
suddenly appeared the division COM
mander with two of his staff I'm
singing their fieldglasses, they seemed
for a moment studying the westward
lowlands, then came trotting swiftly
toward the column.
Colonel, there are scattered parties
of cavalry out there coming swift this
way, too-out north of Bristoe-be-
tween that and Gainesville. They
don't seem to be watching the column,
either. Send one regiment out along
the Gainesville road as far as Bethle-
hem church and let them throw out
skirmishers. Halt the rest of the
brigade here Good afternoon, Mr..
Jennings" he continued, in civil &C
acknowledgement of the Virginian's sa-
lutation. 81 thought you were home
by this time"
General" said he, coming along
side, II want to say one thing, sub,
and it's this-that young gentleman of
your staff was SO kind to DR.. Chiffon
that it completely staggered the doc
| tor to have him knocked down and
captured. HISS bound to take the
best of cayuh of him till he's well
enough to take cayuh of himself-an'
then"
well, and then, Mr.. Jennings?"
asked the general. impatiently, for he
was eager to get on ahead.
tfYou look out for his turning up any
day! If he amt exchanged, I'm bet
tin somethin' else will happen"
"My understanding is that DR.. Chill
ton has made himself personally re-
sponsible for Mr.. Benton's safekeep-
ing SO long as he's allowed to remain
with him"
That's true, I reckon" answered
Jennings. But" and here his Ian
tern jaws relaxed in whimsical grin,
'sthe doctor amt the only brainy one
in that family, general. The girl that
! planned young Ladue's escape from
your fellows at Henry house may play
1t on Ewell's folks at Gawd'nsville Just
as easy"
$50 you know Ewell's at Gordon
ville!" said the general, whirling sud
denly on the speaker. "And you know
the lady who got Mr.. Ferguson into
h1c IN