Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1905-01-06
The Iron
J Brig ade !
a A STORY OF THE ARMY s
! OF THE POTOMAC
By GEN. CHARLES KING
Author of Norman Holt. '''She Colonies
Ds1ghSer," 80" Fort Frsyns, Etc.
CoDyrash. 1909. By G. W. Dillingham; O.
OA lA1AIaC
CHAPTER XIV.

l. I1flOOdE1 OF 1f1h = OEI
Late that evening two tired steeds
were painfully struggling up a stony,
winding pathway among the heights
at the headwaters of the Hazel. Dodg-
ing hamlets and settlements, fording
branch after branch OF the Rapidan,
keeping ever to the wood-path and by
ways, Fred's black guide at last had
landed him in a sheltered nook among
the hills, just as darkness settled
down.
Then away went Hector to refill the
canteen and get such news as he could.
It was late, near nine o'clock, when he
came back laden-oats for the horses,
corn dodgers for their riders and big
news for Fred The Yankees were
pushing forward IN heavy columns
along the Rappahannock, moving per-
haps on Culpeper. They could be off
at dawn and work eastward until they
fell in with the Yankee cavalry that
ought to be out on the right flank of
McDowell's advance. Hector had
friend who could "baw' a mule and
meet them at the ford of the Thorn
ton back of Sperryville, and show a
way to the Hedgman. After that if
Hector was to go back, Benton would
have to shift for himself.
And so, wearied yet refreshed and
full of hope, Fred Benton slept until
aroused by the din of dogs among the
farms below them. 1t was just at the
chill of the earliest dawn. Far down
among the scattered settlements there
came floating quick, stirring and
spirited the soft trumpet notes of the
cavalry reveille, played just as he had
heard it played four successive morn
ings on that ambulance journey to the
railway. Now, what could this mean
but that the squadron had bfvouacked
far out on their flank, far north, too,
of the confederate positions below the
Rapidan, and was scouting these
mountain by-paths, perhaps in search
of him? To Robertson and men of his
rank the game might not be worth the
candle, but there was that strangely
vindictive fellow Lounsberry, armed
with power to order hither and yon.
Rousing Hector he told him of the
new danger, and the darky's eyes
bulged in their sockets He was up
and well scared in less than no time
and, taking Benton's glass, disappeared
among the rocks and trees up the hill
side to the west. There was a look
| out, he said, in the branches of an oak,
from which much of the country could
be seen to the south east. 1t was full
20 minutes later and Just after Ben
ton had heard the distant signal boots
and saddles" from the same trumpet
when he came scram bling down No
time for coffee, no time for feeding or
rubbing the horses, he said. Like as
not these troopers would be out search
ing every by-path. He had seen them
doing that after the first Bull Run
when dozen Yankee prisoners broke
away from the cars at night and
skipped for the mountains. They had
all but two of them back inside of II
hours. Hurriedly saddling, Hector
then aided his charge to mount; then
again led the way, crooked and de-
| vious, through all manner of scrub and
| tangle; threading ravines, skirting
| clearings and creeping ever higher
| toward the crest until the foothills at
| last were left far below. Then on again
northward, and, so tortuous was their
way, so many were the halts, making
on bee line little more than a mile an
hour, they bored through the wilder
ness until late in the afternoon, from
a bare projecting ledge, they obtained
their first unimpeded view Of the east
ward, and saw the North Fork, thu
Hedgman, like silver thread.
That night the moon stood high to-
ward the zenith. By midnight it would
sink behind the Blue Ridge, and Ben
ton ordered forward while the faint
light lasted, despite Hectors demurrer.
They must try to cross the Hedgman
| " 10 l4 -,
| the woods on the further shore until
| the dawn of another day
| A scrambly ride was that to the low
lands, but toward ten o'clock they
struck a wood path, and began to stir
! the dogs of scattered homesteads in
,e foot hills. A sudden turn of the
| cath brought them to the edge of a
cleared field and in view of a sratterAd
/ Sneu or TWO. Then came double chai-
lenge. First the impudent snarl and
dash of brace of back country mon
| grels; then the stern Halt thar! Dis
mount" of a cavalry vedette, starting
from the shadow of clump OF stunt
| ed trees, not so feet away.
| Before Hector, limp and trembling,
| could slip to earth in obedience to the
| order, Benton's hand was on his arm,
| Juggling him back into saddle, while
his heels made vigorous play. "Stoop
| low, you fool, and follow!" he swore
between his set teeth as he whirled
his horse about and at plungfng gallop
tore westward again by the way they
| came. A shot rang out. A bullet went
| whizzing into the shrubbery. but be-
fore the solitary sentry could reload,
/ tho mo ro%
Benton and Hector were 400 yards
| away back along the wood path and
heading through the darkness for the