turned deeply over, as if they had once done duty for the representative
of a cavalier, completed his extraordinary equipment. The group were so
absorbed in him that they did not perceive the approach of their chief
and his orderly; and Brant, with a sign to the latter, halted only a few
paces from this central figure. His speech was a singular mingling
of high-flown and exalted epithets, with inexact pronunciation and
occasional lapses of Western slang.
"Well, I ain't purtendin' to any stratutegical smartness, and I didn't
gradooate at West Point as one of those Apocryphal Engineers; I don't
do much talking about 'flank' movements or 'recognizances in force' or
'Ekellon skirmishing,' but when it comes down to square Ingin fightin',
I reckon I kin have my say. There are men who don't know the Army
Contractor," he added darkly, "who mebbe have heard of 'Red Jim.' I
don't mention names, gentlemen, but only the other day a man that
you all know says to me, 'If I only knew what you do about scoutin' I
wouldn't be wanting for information as I do.' I ain't goin' to say who
it was, or break any confidences between gentlemen by saying how many
stars he had on his shoulder strap; but he was a man who knew what he
was saying. And I say agin, gentlemen, that the curse of the Northern
Army is the want of proper scoutin'. What was it caused Bull's
Run?--Want o' scoutin'. What was it rolled up Pope?--Want o' scoutin'.
What caused the slaughter at the Wilderness?--Want o' scoutin'--Ingin
scoutin'! Why, only the other day, gentlemen, I was approached to know
what I'd take to organize a scoutin' force. And what did I say?--'No,
General; it ain't because I represent one of the largest Army Beef
Contracts in this country,' says I. 'It ain't because I belong, so to
speak, to the "Sinews of War;" but because I'd want about ten thousand
trained Ingins from the Reservations!' And the regular West Point,
high-toned, scientific inkybus that weighs so heavily on our army don't
see it--and won't have it! Then Sherman, he sez to me"--
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