Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-02-11

"
They were all green" at such work.
! north and south both. Already had
the northern volunteers. marching
by night, on converging roads, twice
opened fire and killed or wounded sew
eral in each party before discovering
their blunder. It was all nervous bust
ness for new and inexperienced officers
and, as luck would have it, Paul Ladue.
only just up from a det stating fever.
found himself commando an infantry
outpost north of Bull Run No caval-
ry had been in their front at sunset.
I None had passed out that way. and
when at brisk trot, all ignorant Of their
proximity to the pickets, the confed-
crate troopers came surging down the
lane, never hearing, probably, and
certainly never needing the order to
/ halt, Ladue shouted fire and. sorely
wounded, young Chiffon fell from his
horse.
! Five seconds more and the error was
discovered. Chiffon and his platoon
had taken the wrong r d somewhere
south of Chantilly and. instead of re-
Joining their squadron, had stumbled
on the pickets. There was more or less
soldier recrimination. but, quickly a.
possible, the wounded officer was borne
In blanket TO a neighboring farm
house, and a trooper galloped to
Gainesville for surgeon. Ladue spent
sleepless and miserable night, was ex-
onerated by his division commander
| and Stuart when the matter was in
| vestigated next day, but was so utter
~ broken up over the affair that per-
| mission was given him to go back
again and remain with Chiffon until
he could be moved.
Ladue, nearly mad with misery. was
hopefully awaiting the coming of an
ambulance on the third day when his
patient suddenly took a turn for the
worse. The division surgeon said II
would be serious matter to take him
that long ride back to Warrenton and
suggested Ladue's going over to the
nome OF Judge Armistea0 at Hopewell
and arranging to have the lad moved
thltEer. This was on the eighth Of
March, and up to noon they had mo
sign OF soldiers coming from the east
or north
30 raul had gone, never counting on
Chllton's taking the bit in his teeth.
ana when late at night he returned
10 Ihornten, weak and weary. he was
ashaSt 10 learn that with only his body
servant and trooper nurse. Chiffon
mad started southwark in the wagon
/ that evening by the Sudley road. bent
on escaping from the heralded advance
Oh the union blue. Despite fatigue and
lalllng strength, Ladue followed.
caught them at the Henry house. and
was within that historic wreck. con-
suitlng the owner as to the best roads
TO follow while the farm wagon. with
It's solitary escort was toiling up the
slope from the crossing If the pike.
when all on sudden there came a
cloud of blue-jacketed yellow trimmed
troopers sweeping aerc IN aield from
the southeast. and Mr.. sIenry had bare
~ time to hide his visitor under the
hooring in the garnet when they were
oismounting by the dozen and jovially
! swarming all over the premises.
Another moment, too and they had
surrounded the wagon with its helm
less load. Then Averell himself had
rluuen up to investigate. and one of
MS nrst orders was that the Henry
house and grounds were to be pro-
tected against all possibility of pillage
and vandalism.
so 1t had happened that for two DAYS
raul Ladue lay concealed within the
Henry house-once when the guard
was changed hearing voices he recog-
nlzed as those of men he well knew in
| his western home.
And again the word was passed from
the sentries at the front: Here comes
lhe seneral!" and while the guard
sprang to their stacked arms, Pau,
Ladue. crouching sadly in the little
garrett, crept 10 the westward side and
peered through a crevice at the comino
cavalcade
All In the uniform OF their rank. In
1rock coats, belts and sashes. gaunt-
lets and forage caps. with regulation
morse equipments-the general and his
little staff made gallant show as they
breasted the slope. There were only
hVe In all, with three orderlies and no
escort, but in three of the five Ladue
saw the faces of men whom he had
looked up to, honored and esteemed
while the face of the fourth was that
OF the faithful and devoted friend whom
he had loved as David loved Jonathan.
Ladue threw himself upon the floor
so sick at heart that it was a relief
TO sob like a homesick child.
And so Henry found him, when in
his stocking feet, little later. he
climbed the ladder to the loft with
Wonderous news. DR.. Chiffon and his
daughter were coming-were even then
on their way from Warrenton.
Much of the early morning of the
following day he spent with Resale
by the side of the wounded boy. Now
that DR.. Chiffon had gone on in search
OF the commanding general, hopeful of
permission to take his crippled soldier
home, the vital question arose. What
was to become of Paul? He had no
excuse for parole. He had not been
grlevously wounded. He was there
OF his own volition, undiscovered, with
In the hostile lines, and, though wear
Ing his new and natfv uniform, OIL H.