Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1905-02-24


ARDi"
"A spy in camp" was what the bri-
gade said. when it heard the story
that came from Washington, and
hopping mad was The brigade. Its
fur had been rubbed the wrong way
by the little filings of rivals, prompted
by the pitiable envy that seems in
separable from any profession whose
reward is mainly reputation. It's
sense of subordination, too, had been
tried by tales of sneering remarks
made by Gen. This or Col. That. and
it firmly believed that much OF Fred
Benton's present trouble was due to
the fact that he wouldn't stand hear
ing them abused, belittled, or ma
ligned. In greatly exaggerated form,
the rumor of his disagreements with
his fellow staff officers and his row
with Old Scoffer'' had gone the round
OF the regiments, to the end that Fred
was now looked upon as hero and a
champion, even by the Black Hats,
who rarely saw herOism in anybody,
who secuted the idea of needing a
champion and who pronounced one
general of the Army of the Potomac,
at least, a consummate ass. They
were mad clear through when told he
had declared Benton disloyal-"had
more friends in the south than in the
army" Only a few weeks previous
they had been pulling Benton TO pieces
among themselves, because of his ap-
parent neglect Of them and prefer
ence for his new associates. Now they
were all afire at the idea of any one
abusing him. and there was wrath
and wonder in camp when it was
learned that by order of Stanton him
self Fred Benton was held in close
arrest, with the prospect, said rumor,
of being sent to that so-called bastile
of the war days-Fort Lafayette.
Oh, a beautiful case was this worked
up against Capt. Fred Benton, A. D.
c., if the rumOrs from the rear could
be believed, and strange it was, indeed,
that in the midst of all the wrath and
despond in all ranks, there should ap-
pear at the camps of the Iron Brigade,
shaking hands with brother officers
| and soldiers, that very able talker and
genial fellow-citizen, Maj. McKinnon,
and Mac had lots to tell. Growers
C44O 'ilOSI luCh WCAS SAOWiOlo lAdI VIZ.
full Christmastide along the Stafford
Heights-who asked him why he
| wasn't with his regiment, were told
that he was still on court-martial du-
| ty, but court had adjourned over
| Christmas. Growers at first only
grOwled when McKinnOn tenta lively
| began to talk about Benton and La
| due, but later they hstened-mOst men
| willard when he returned three
days later to his court at the capital
| and made report to certain confiden-
| tial officers at the department, it must
| be admitted that, though he took back
with him far less of compromising
| character concerning Benton than he
expected and hoped, he left a lot be-
hind him.
And all this time there lay at the
old capitol prison, awaiting needed
evidence to prove him a spy, a very
luckless young soldier, Paul Ladue.
All this time there fumed and chafed,
confined in arrest to the limits of Greble
Barracks and the adjoining square in
| which we're the officers quarters, Capt.
Fred Benton, A. D. c., well-nigh for
| hidden to be seen by anybody save
/ S0INlCS specimens QSIdll0O 1OI
the purpose. All this time there was
a man that could have thrown light on
the situation, but most unaccountab bly,
had he disappeared. Jennings was
| again at large, and the department de-
| clared it knew not whittier he had
gone. He had been released, was the
| well-because it would
appear that he had only done what
humanity archaeological and nursed
| half drowned, half fever-burned, hall
| dying man.
Then the squire came out from the
west, and that lusty patriot happened
| &c be at odds with state officials over
some regimental appointment. The
great president was now confronted by
new. and direful problems-Burn-
side had demanded the dismissa
of several of his generals or else
mis- own. A new chief of the army
| had to be chosen at this crisis of its
history. No wonder the mighty cap
tain could not anchor his craft in the
rush of the rapids, and lower a boat
for the little boys apple. No wonder
he had no time to. personally investi-
gate the case of Benton's beloved son
The new housekeeper," he said
would quit without notice rather thar
submit to interference With sor.
rowing, suffering, anxious heart he Lei
Burnside go, and set Burnside's fierces
critic, himself to lose his head few
weeks later, in Burnside's place, an6
then the great, loyal, triple-tried army
went in again, with Overwhelming
numbers, to round up that thin graz
II line along the southwark heights
Again the fords were ribboned with tn,
pale blue columns, as a dozen grea
divisions circled the confederate left
Again did Jackson dare to drop every