Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1905-02-17
The Iron
J Brig ade i
a A STORY OF THE ARMY 6
OF THE POTOMAC
BY GEN. CHARLES KING
Author of''Noraan Holt, '"che colonsi's
Daughter. :" al Port Frsyns," ETC.
CopyEazht 1904. By G. ". Dillingham; c.
fEo.+ ;r,,a5
(Continued.l
CHAPTER XXI.

over the useless slaughter OF the field
of Fredericksburg it were best to draw
the veil. Far down at the left flank the
old brigade CROPPED it's way through
dripping fog and lay in line of battle,
having little to do but wait orders, and
catching only occasional shots from
the southern guns along the heights.
Old hands under fire, the veterans
officers and men-lay close and kept
still Their rifles could effect nothing
against an enemy uphill and behind
entertainments. New hands, not yet
the gallant colonel of the great battal-
ion of Wolverines, big almost as the
rest of the brigade, thought it neces-
sary to ride up and down his line, ex-
horting his men to steadiness in loud
and powerful voice. cit lets 'em know
I'm here" said he, to the expostulant
commander of the next door regiment
81 see," said the latter, as volley
flashed down from Early's fellows
along the crest, land it also lets the
enemy. Your men will be steadier
without the telling" which reasoning
the colonel pondered over and accepted.
He and his thoroughbreds were spoil
ing for a chance to show their neigh
bors from the adjoining states that
they were quite as valiant as the
vaunted old brigade: "Give us half
chance said he, land then-you look
out for the Wolverines"
But neither Fredericksburg nor
charlottesville, nor Virginia, nor even
Maryland afforded the longed-for OPP
portunity. Not until the midsummer
morning of the first day at Gettysburg
did their time come, but when it came
it proved test the like of which had
never been met before, even in that
hard-fighting, hard-hammered COM
mand
Meanwhile, what had not befal1en
other actors in our story-notably the
Damon and Pythias of the ante-bellum
days. Benton and Paul Ladue.
'Seems to have bout as many friends
among the rebs as he has on our side
of the line" had the division COM
mander remarked of Benton, though in
moment of exaggerated biliousnes.;,
the day after the retreat from the
southern shore. Fred's new general
corps commander, because. the lead
ing brigade took the wrong road in
the rain and darkness, and so delayed
matters over an hour. 1t happened
that Benton had guided the division
to it's first position on the field; that
he had been sent to find Gen. Frank
lin; that when he returned with a
message from the latter officer, the
division was in motion, and the COM
mander had ridden off to speak with
Gibbon or somebody else, and Benton
followed, of course, in search of his
chief, instead of staying with the head
of column. Finding himself rebuked,
the general reprimanded Benton in the
presence and hearing of officers and
men. Benton's heart and temper being
both sore and tried, he had replied
with much spirit. If not subordination,
to the effect that the message he was
charged to deliver admitted of no de-
lay; that if the general had been where
he belonged there would have been no
delay; and that sooner than submit
to such injustice he would ask to be
relieved from staff duty forthwith, and
wrote that very night TO his ola friend
and general, then member of an i'm
portant military tribunal at Washing
ton, begging his advice and interven-
ton, and telling him, of course. the
story of poor Ladue.
But, being coupled with another, that
story was now almost an old one at the
capital, for thither had the poor lad
been sent and Jennings with him;
Paul looking, indeed, more dead than
alive" for a strange, eventful history
had been his ever since the dreadful
morning north of Sharpsburg that
stretched him senseless in front of Glib
bon's furious guns. Killed," said La
mar and other officers who saw him
borne away in a blanket. "Mortally
wounded said the hospital attendants
who first ministered to him, back OF
the bunker church, where reigned
confusion inexpressible owing to the
appalling number of those needing
surgical aid. How he got there or be-
yond, Paul never knew until long
thereafter. Tender-hearted Virginians
had concealed him until he was well
enough to move about. Odd as it may
seem, the most practicable way Tor
southern soldier to go from the POto-
mac to his own people was by way OF
the north. Through the kind Virgin
ians, civilian clothing was bought for
their interesting captive, and by mid
November Paul was safely under the
roof of a weli-to-do and most active
southern sympathizer in Baltimore.
These were details which Ladus
OF 10 hod
revived sufficiently to recognize Benton
and 10 speak feebly a few moments;
but that very night, in the fog and
darkness, was begun the building of
the bridges. the crossing of the left