Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1905-03-10

Between the twilight of the second
of July that witnessed Ewell's bloody
assault and the dawning of that black
Friday OF the Lost Cause.-The third
day-something had happened to give
new heart TO Jackson's old men. The
'Stonewal brigade was there still in
the woods in the low ground between
the rocky point, where crOuched the
survivors of WadSwOrth's division, and
the forest-cOvered heights of to the
eastward, where cavalry guidons-
union cavalry-had been flashing in the
last rays OF the setting sun Some
where in the dim fields there was stir
and excitement even in the wearied
blyouacs of Ewell: and, under the
starlight, eager TO satisfy his generals
restless desire to know what it ali
meant, Fred Benton had crept out TO
The front.
The word has gone the rounds, to
the joy OF every soldier heart, that
the new commander meant to stand
and fight, and if Lee could muster no
more men than these already thrown
in, he might hammer the lines in vain.
Now, if only Stuart and his pet bri-
gades would but stay lost, so that no
AScA ACSO OO 1OA( IOI the lar IlSlS
flank. all would indeed be Welt
But would Stuart stay lost? Could
he have got so far away as not to
be found and by this time returned to
the army; and when hes came, would
it not be from the north, and thus
bring him in on the very flank they
we're now defending? Tired as he was
Benton could not sleep for thinking
of the disclosures made through Has
kell.
Alone and afoot, after a word with
his gray-haired chief, he slipped out
and away to the Baltimore pike. This
he followed southeasterly nearly half
a mile, greeted occasionally by low
toned challenge of sentry; but other
officers were hurrying swiftly to and
fro, and there was little detention. AS
early as three o'clock he found himself
following patrol down rocky path
way toward the creek, and, learning
from outlying sentry there that no
force seemed to be in his immediate
front-Only a few pickets-Benton eX-
planned that he wished to crawl out far
enough to be beyond the sound of
trampling hoof and rumbling wheel at
the pike, that he might listen the bet
ter. And, creeping from bush to bush
to avoid the moon1it spaces, less than
half an hour before dawn he had sue
ceeded in gaining fully 400 yards out
toward the northeast, and there low
voices warned him to lie still and
listen. He was either on or within the
confederate picket line, and had much
to learn and little time.
And then, as he crouched close to
the trunk of a spreading tree, faint
and sweet, soft yet stirring, so far out
to the north that the performer doubt
less thought it beyond the range of
inimieal ears, a cavalry trumpet began
to sound the martial reveille, stirring
some nearby watcher to remonstrance.
Damn that Internal dash-dash ed
idiot stormed a low, half-choked
voice. He'll tell the whole dash
dashed Yankee army our fellows have
| comet Go back there, sergeant, and
tell our trumpter if he dares to foot a
horn I'll murder him.
Then somebody rustled off through
the bushes, and somebody else spoke.
Some of Hamptons crowd, / reckon
How lopg'd the general want US to stay
out hyuh?"
Till Ewell attacks at dawn. Then
we'll mount and look out for Gregg.
His people are out here to the east of
US. Stuart'n get after them, you bet,
| as soon as it's light"
I'VE haven't got horse that can
more'n stagger. All worn out, l tell
YOU" protested the second voice.
mo more'n theirs are. Jennings met
us back there on the Hanover pike.
and l heard him tell Fitz Lee Gregg S
horses were all played out"
Jennings be damned" broke in a
| third voice, impetuously, and Benton
started at the sound. 1t was Chiffon s
| beyond shadow of doubt. Chiffon
| again with his old regiment, and these
with him were doubtless officers OF
Fitz Lees brigade, scouting, probably
we'll in front of the cavalry lines, yet
| proving that Stuart was there at last
and could be counted on to make
| things lively in the morning. 1t was
| high time to slip back and give warn
ing, but getting back was slow and
tedious-even perilous work. The
dawn was breaking when, in bedrag-
gled garb, Benton found his gray-head-
ed general in the circle about the COM
mander. Before Benton had time tt
whisper half his explanation, Wads
worth's tired eyes famed with cage
light
Here's the very news to prove it
generali'' he cried. Capt Benton, o
my staff, is just in from that front
Stuart is there and EweH means to at
tack"
How do you know Stuart is there?
demanded Meade, whirling sharply OF
the young officer. The most courteou
and polished Of gentlemen at othe
times. Meade was irascible in the ex