Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-04-01

beloved OF the people. Then the con-
drct of affairs in the field had slipped
| from STATIONS hands. A greater than
! Halleck or he was now in calm. mas
terful. imperturbable control. while
the head of the department OF war had
pertorce TO be content, with managing
matters at the rear. where. il must be
| owned. enemies were almost as active
as over lie line. Many military
| head he hit that summer and fall
i summarily dismissing even regulars
/ without the form of trial-some-
times imprisoning suspects" without
| sign of a warrant sometimes sending
whole families into exile. and at ali
! times being as oyercharged with eN-
plosive shock as a bullying thunder
cloud sailing in search of object at
which 10 launch a bolt The illimitable
! humor and patience of the president.
coupled with the unalterable conviction
| of the secretary himself that ruin
would follow We're he TO resign. stood
! between the latter and open rupture
with his Incompatible chief He
would have hanred Jack Chiffon before
the end Of the August moon IL il had
not been Cor Lincoln's restraining
hand. Proof? What more proof was
wanting? Had he not 2 second time
both times in disguise-visited no.
/ torious southern s., upathizers within
, our lines7 Yves no. the rotebook
| found in his possession filled with
memoranda s. etches ETC.. of our field
worls and forces in Mary land? What
| n he did say ne never ponci'ed a line
Of them? ANYBODY would say that,
the president. said he. was soft heart
ed as summer squash in Sep
| TENDER" The president wanted TO
see young - nton again. did he?
/ What was this etor~ about B,nton's
| appealing 20 sheridan for safe conduct
through the lines for rebel famiies
| with rebel dead9 Stanton was quite
in the mood go carry out his threat
OF breaking" Benton then and there.
but rather ruefully was he realizing
that no would have 10 take back anoth-
er order. dismissing summary a most
gallant young regular and Stanton
hated 20 take back anything. right OF
wrong. However. he refused TO order
Benton 90 WASHINGTON. SAYING, that
battle was imminent. that Sheridan
needed every man of his stan. and
meekly the president succumbed till the
fight was Overland then il was Sheri-
dan. not Stanton. who sent in our aide
de-camp. with hearty praise for his
pluck and a shot through the shoulder
Winchester settled the matter for good
and all The president shook the other
hand CT the tall. bearded Badger and
offered him two wee = leave and a
chance TO go home until his arm was
out of the sling. Benton begged in
stead for a chance TO see Chiffon. and
the charges against him. and that very
day drove Stanton 20 the veree of ap-
plopleXy. for when shown the fatal
notebook he said he knew il we'll and
, could swear it was all the work OF
Paul Ladue and not that OF Jack Chill
ton. Benton could not lift the gate
/ Of Lafayette. whittier poor Jack had
been sent. but he shattered all chance
OF their lifting the prisoner at the
loop OF rope. and this news, too, went
by devious. but still speedy ways TO
Charlottesville. where again. On her
knees. by her father bedside with
ner arms about that fathers neck. Ros-
allie Chiffon thanked Cod for his mer-
cies. and then found it harder than
ever TO begin the letter she had long
meant TO write TO Elinor Benton. even
though now the sending Of il might
be impossible
One more ride had Benton near the
iron Brigade. after long months OF sep
aration from them, after many and
many a day and night in saddle. mud
and rain. in sleet and snow. up the
Shenandoah. down the James river
canal, around Richmond. and then,
| amidst vOlleys OF chan and catcalls
around the rear OF the entrenched Ar
my OF the Potomac and out into the
dripping woods about DinWiddie One
vehement relentless. reslstless dav and
night ride followed, along a tormented
flank, and then. that soft. sunshinv
April morning. after the weeks Of
gloom and rain, the curtainiag cavalry
drew aside. revealing TO the now hone
less eyes OF the great confederate lead
er the barrier ranks OF the Fifth CORPS
the Iron Brigade in their midst And
then, the historic surrender ended
While the blue columns tramped leis ire
iy ncrtwrad past the scenes O. their
nercest t-ac' -~. one command iol-
lowing the line II the old Virginia
Central. 70 nd itef. late in April.
marching standby into Cordonsvine.
long Tine the abiding place OF grim un-
repentant old wardog Ewell and the,-
veteran antagonists OF Jackson's IA
nous corps Some of these fellows. in
worn gray uniforms, were at the sta
ton even now. TWO OF hem shaking
hands with a tall stan officer in blue.
We hoped 10 have JACK here by this
time, major" said Winston. His re-
lease was ordered soon as Gen. Grant
got back to Washington. but he had
TO stay because of-other matters" and
flush OF deep embarrassment burned
on the southerner's cheek. Even then
they could not without grief and shame
refer to the great tragedy that stilled
even the Joy OF dawning peace. and
hushed forever the voice of him who
with malice toward none, had never
failed in bounGless charity for all.
Jack, though given his liberty. found
himself still In need of war deDartment