Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1905-03-31
\ STORY OF THE ARr1Y
OF THE POTOMAC
Qepyxsshx. 1900. By G. ". Dunnxhaz O.

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 chaff and catcalls,
around the rear of the entrenched Ar
my of the Potomac and out into the
dripping woods about Dinwiddie One
vehement, relentless, resistless day and
night ride followed, along tormented
flank, and then, that soft, sunshiny
April morning, after the weeks of
gloom and rain, the curtaining cavalry
drew aside, revealing to the now hope
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 leisure
ly nortwrad past the scenes of their
fercest endeayor, one command. fol-
lowing the line of the old Virginia
Central, found itself, late in April
marching sturdily into Gordonsville,
long time the abiding place of grim un-
repentant old wardog Ewell and their
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 tn EN- shaking
HANDS with a tall staff 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 E~tters,'' and
a 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 stil1ed
even the joy of dawning peace, and
hushed forever the voice of him who
with malice toward none, had never
failed in boundless charity for ALL
Jack, though given his liberty, found
himself still in need of war department
clearance papers that, in all the horror
of those mid April days and the ex-
element of the chase for fugitives,
, were possibly Inadvertently withheld
And SO it happened that, with other
sorrow-stricken Virginians, he was
still under detention at Washington,
while every nook of the river counties
was being searched, and that it should
be his lot to encounter still further an
nOy. A steamer from down the Poto-
mac brought in three wounded men,
between searching party and certain
fisher people whose huts and sheds had
been too suddenly visited in the dark
ness that precedes the dawn Shots
had been exchanged, due, it was
claimed, to the confusion and excite
ment; but the tall, lank, woe-begone
civilian who guided the party and got
three serious wounds as his share of
the casualties, swOre he had been
singled out for vengeance because he
had been the means of breaking up
more than one well-planned escape of
confederate prisoners. 1t was Jennings
and Jennings before breathing his last
wished to see Capt. Chiffon, who swal-
lowed his repugnance and went; for
in common with most of his people he
believed the stricken man a. two-faced
spy and the seller of information
which he probably was, yet hoped to
play his game to the last and induce
Chiffon now to believe it was the dead
and defenseless Louns berry that threw.
the cavalry on Ladue that night below
Matthias.
It was southern lead, however, that
ended Jennings's career, and he, at
least, had he lived, could never have
set foot again on Virginia soil.
These things they told Fred Benton
that soft April evening on the way
up to Charlottesville, as the sun was
sinking behind the ragged mountains
and the Rivanna bank full, came rush
ing and foaming down from the
beautiful Blue Ridge. They led him
from the wreck Of a railway, through
powered streets, to the gate of an old
Virginia homestead where leafy trees
clung thick and protecting about the
columned portico and the widespread
ing caves. There these two war-trained
young cavaliers, still wearing their
uniforms of gray left him for brief
hour, and went their way to answer
many a question, doubtless, from the
lips of loved ones, not SO entirely abb
sorbed in their own bliss as to feel
no interest in the posi- bilities of an
other affair. Every girl in Charlottes-
vile had at least one lover in the war
Some had many more than one. Some,
alas, had lost the only one. Was it
like that Queen Rosalie should care
for none? Queen Rosalie she was again
in the hearts Of many of her old CO.
terie, but imperious. wilful, domineer-
ing NO longer-changed to one and all,
as all could see.
The trees and shrubbery were ringing
with riot Of melody as Benton softly
closed the gate behind him and stood
moment, waiting for his heart to
cease the violence of its throbbing.
Blue birds. wrens and orioles were
piping in final frolie before the close OF
day. The hedge rows and the lofty
boughs alike seemed thrilling with life
and ecstasy and song. Only the old
white mansion was still. The bread
/ doorway; to the lower hall stood invit-
ingly open. An easy chair, cushioned,