Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-02-18
CHAPTHER XII.

Once more tb Badger-Hoosier bril-
Sade was sw ing away southwest
ward. For tn Vth time in less than
a year the me Jt the BLACK Hats"
at the head OF cci 4mn mad picked their
way over the stolIe-r:3oed PIKE, saying
opprobious things of Virginia path.
masters. An impcdent lot were these
fellows IN the lnlitation "hossuths.'
Marvelously snappy and precise in
drill, steady on parade, enduring on
the march and reasonably respectful
toward their officers (who were the
only ones in til g di siSion to don and
hahituaily wear The fulldress headgear
OF the regular service), the rank ano
file were bless "a with not a little
soldier skeptici n as to the value or
stability of other commands in and out
of the brigade, and a calmly critical
attitude toward officers other than
those of their selection. They had not
been over well content with their
original field and staff, and, for lack of
leaders of that rank, had become some,
what split up at first Bull Run, fight
ing sturdily all The same by company
or squad 10 the fsg end, and never
knowing they were whipped when
finally "herded off the field. Now,
however, they had men at their head.
colonel, Northumberland and major
by whom they positively swore and
on whose skill and valor they would
have banked their last cent. Yet. with
all their regard ior these, their hon
ored leaders, !, must be owned the
Black Hats gave item lots of trouble.
They would gu5- res of the brigade
and lord "a sc~s Tv o er the whole
division. oniy ono other regiment of
which had as yet faced the foe in
battle. They had a curious defect of
vision when outside" officers happened
along, and were forever being COM
planned of as failing to render honors."
whereat they were heard on more than
one occasion unblushingly to declare
they saw. but didn't suppose the strang-'
ers could be officers. They were pre-.
ternaturally keen sighted as sentrie,
toward men of other regiments run
ming guard" or smuggling contraband
of war, and were correspondingly blind
when the culprit was of their own
complexion. They were probably the
best drilled and positively the worst
hated regiment in the whole division
and relished one distinction quite
as much as the other-when they we're
marching this third time on Manassas.
and the little West Pointer in saddle
at their head thanked God that at last
he had them where. with work against
a common foe, there was possibility
of keeping them out of mischief
Centreville had been passed. Bull
Run recrossed. and Bristoe reached
a point beyond their previous explo-
rations. Then hack had they to go
TO meet a threatened raid on their
railway communications, and, that
matter settled, again they were trudg-
ing through the well-remembered
wood roads when, as a turn of the
way brought their foremost company
in full view of the fine sweep of
country off to the west, the gray
bearded colonel. for the time COM
handing the brigade, refined out to
the right for a look at his men, and
his tall, born-soldier of an adiutanr
rode alongside the black-bearded, dark
featured, stocky little leader of the
Black Hats, pointed with his gaunt-
letted hand to the blue curtain of the
Bull Run range and remarked: I'D
give a good deal to know just VIVA
that fellow Jackson's doing behind
that screen to-day"
why SOP asked O'Connor, shortly.
Shields licked him we'll at Kerns-
town. Banks has turned his whole
force back there. Blenker's big divi-
sion has gone to reinforce them. Why,
we've got enough men there to eat 'em
alive-Jackson and ALL"
First catch your rabbit" said the
adiutant, 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
I n 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 WIS with such
fatal effect to pour his columns on the
union flank and rear.
1t was moist afternoon. The mer
in the marching column, heavily bur.
dened with bulging XII apsack anC
double blanket and the long Springfield
over their burly shoulders, whipped
of their hats and swept the coat
sleeve over their dripping brows, peer
Ing curiously at the old colonel sittin,
sturdily in saddle and watching thei
array. A grim smile stole over hi
grizzlej face as his own battalion cam,
striding forth In the wake of th'
"Scofing Second" Then the kindl.
evee cloudnd ,rssA g ~. . -,