e in November, Button had made more than one error that
set men to saying things, and at least one blunder that had called for
rebuke. It was supposed at the time that the rebuke would end it, but,
to Button's wrath, and indeed that of most of his friends, the story
appeared in exaggerated form in many an Eastern paper. What made it
worse was that, as told in Boston, Philadelphia, and other far Eastern
communities, where the Indian is little known and much considered,
Button's interests were bound to suffer, for he was declared to have
butchered defenseless women and children in a surrendered village--a
most unjust accusation in spite of the fact that certain squaws and boys
had died fighting with their braves by night, when bullets could not
well discriminate. Button had but just got his promotion to regimental
command, and friends at court were working hard for his further
advancement to the grade of brigadier-general--a fact that hurt him in
an army so benighted as then was ours, in believing that generalships
should be bestowed only upon the seniors and service-tried among the
colonels. We have broadened much since then, and, as it was once said
that every French soldier carried the baton of a marshal in his
knapsack, so now may the silver star be hidden in the pocket of the
lieutenants of every staff department as well as those of the Fighting
Force. There are none who may not aspire.

So Button believed it of Sumter that he and his, on the way to the
railway station, went in and condoled with Bob Lanier, and doubtless
vituperated him, the commander, when in point of fact no one of their
number had seen, or spoken with, Bob. Sumter merely left a big basket
filled with fruit, and a little note with friendliness, from Mrs.
Sumter, then sprang into the curtained escort wagon, and was whisked
away.

Then came the storm, and then a Sunday and Monday in which no man went
either way between the fort and town. And then a third, in which the
gale went down, and the garrison first dug itself out, and then
tunnelled in to the colonel's, the adjutant's office, and other
submerged quarters, and on the morning of that third day Captain Sumter,
in snow-covered furs, reported his return in person to his post
commander, and explained that he had been storm-bound at the station in
the meantime.

It was then barely nine o'clock. Guard mounting, the first held since
Saturday, was just over. The morning reports, the first rendered s