Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-03-11


unSainiy bCSts and the long loads OF
oalk and chess, then studied the dis
tant line OF heights across the stream.
saying little but thinking much. Who
ever sought TO storm that crest had a
precious job on hand, was an expurga-
ton OF the way in which the average
veteran expressed his individual views.
And while seated in saddle. shivering
In the wind blowing from the distant
chesapeake. and wishing the chief
would quit his comments on the orders
OF the corps commander and trot home
10 dinner, benton caught sIAht OF a
little column of cavalry riding defect
eddy in from the far left flank. Horses
taded, men disguised. and three or
four prisoners in their wake looked
worst of all. Where dye s'pose those
dam-fools have come from?" asked
the general cheerfully. Captain" he
cried, hailing the officer in command.
what you got there?"
The officer touched his cap. turned
out of column, SO as not to halt the
methodlcal march, rode up toward the
general and said: Prisoners. sir. taken
by one of our scouting parties a few
miles down, and sent in by us, for most
OF these horses with me have to be
shod."
BY this time the greater part of the
troop, in their ugly light blue over
coats, had plodded by, and the SQUAD
OF prisoners came footing it YEARLY
after Foremost of these a tall, thin
faced, ungalnly specimen, dressed in
one of those self-same cavalry over
coats, glanced curiously at the general
from under his broad-brinIsned SLOUGH
hat; threw looS over the blue-nosed.
watery-eyed pair Of orderlies at his
back, and then on Benton and broth
er aide, sitting few yards aside: tLen
instantly flash of recognition shot
over his face, and he called aloud:
There, captain. There's a gentle
man who will vouch for what I saw
Ask Capt Benton"
1t was our friend jennings, he of the
seone house and the Warrenton pike.
and Jennings would not be denied
he plunged into voluble story to the
listening chief, despite the efforts of an
Irish trooper to prod him forward.
D'you know him." asked the gen
eral, shortly, as he turned to Benton
He says you do"
saw him once or twice. sir" was
the guarded answer. 81 do not know
him further than that he held Gen. Nc
Dowells pass and went in and out of
our lines at will last summer"
Ana I'm Just as lCeal as / was
then protested Jennings. only they
caught me down here trying to helm
some folks of mine that were sick and
nigh starving"
But the general shut him off irnpa-
uently. He was giving ear to the
words OF the captain, who had ridden
closer
Col. Hammond ordered his ar
rest, SIR because of papers in his pos
session, showing he was mixed UP in
the aiding of Confederates-office
across the Potomac. They cot one of
EN- too weak to ride. He's in that am
puiance yonder." and the dragon
pofnted 10 tne yellow-painted vehicle
coming bouncing among the ruts and
ridges of the frozen roadway. A faint
moan issued from beneath the canvas
cover as the driver refined up. and Ben
ton, moved by compassion, urged his
morse past the silent, passive column
and peered in through the opening at
the back. The next instant he was out
or saddle, and the rear spring bent I'M
oer MS weight as he leaped upon the
steps. Then they heard his voice in
tones of mingled grief. joy and amaze:
Paul! Paul! Dear old boy, don't you
know me?"