Part 6 (2/2)
Langdon's easy method of making friends was well ill.u.s.trated as he clapped his new companion on the back. Everybody he met was the Mississippian's friend until he had proved himself the contrary. That had been his rule through life.
”Come right over, Colonel; have a cigar, sir.” Then, as they lighted their cigars, he inquired, ”What army corps were you with, Colonel?”
”I was under Grant along the Tennessee,” replied the old G.A.R. man.
Familiarity with a Senator was something new for him, and already he was straightening up and becoming more of a man every moment. Langdon was thoroughly interested.
”I was along the Tennessee under Beauregard,” he said.
”Great generals, sir! Great generals!” exclaimed Colonel Stoneman.
”And great fighting, I reckon!” echoed the Confederate. ”You remember the battle of Crawfordsville?”
The old Federal smiled with joyous recollection.
”Do I? Well, I should say I did! Were you there, Senator?”
”Was I there? Why, I remember every shot that was fired. I was under Kirby, who turned your left wing.”
The att.i.tude of the Northern soldier changed instantly. He drew himself up with cold dignity. Plainly he felt that he had the honor of his army to sustain.
”Our left wing was never turned, sir!” he exclaimed with dignity.
Langdon stared at him with amazement. This was a point of view the Confederate had never heard before.
”Never turned!” he gasped. ”Don't tell me that! I was there, and, besides, I've fought this battle on an average of twice a week ever since '65 down in Mississippi, and in all these years I never heard such a foolish statement.”
”What rank were you, sir?” asked the Union soldier, haughtily.
”I was a captain that morning,” confessed the Southerner.
His old enemy smiled with superiority.
”As a colonel I've probably got more accurate information,” he said.
”I was a colonel that evening,” came the dry retort.
”But in an inferior army. We licked you, sir!” cried Stoneman, hotly.
The Mississippian drew himself up with all the dignity common to the old Confederate soldier explaining the war.
”The South was never whipped, sir. We honorably surrendered, sir. We surrendered to save the country, sir, but we were never whipped.”
”Did you not run at Kenyon Hill?” taunted Stoneman.
Langdon brought down his fist in the palm of the other hand violently.
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