The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-04-11
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ways, fields and forests, its houses, barns
and sheds, its every breeze by day and
night for three long years, echoed the
fierce shouts of contestants and the
groahs of wounded men. Nature made
1t garden. War converted it into !,
vast graveyard.
Tie Federals had begun their march
up the valley from Harper's Ferry.
jackson was ordered over TO bar the
way. Historians may write with pref.
udicb and politicians speak in bitter
ness. Let us bo fair and conscientious,
even il we cannot be neutral. Jack
sons first battle was on the broad fields
of Kernstown. All historians who have
written for the future have pronounced
him wonderful man in the science of
war. Before his command was fairly in
the valley Royal Kenton and others
were far ahead, scouting for informa-
tion. Their reports decided jackson on
moving swiftly up and attacking the
Fedetals as they reached Kornstown.
He was beaten back and fairly routed,
but that was to be the first and only
time.
As Jackson's own brigade swept for
ward into the fight Kenton was in the
ranks OF the Shenandoah guards. On
his right was Steve Brayton, on his left
Ike Baxter. He had known but little
of his company since detailed for scout
duty He OWNED that Captain Wyle's
bitterness had intensified, and that the
prejudice against him among his COM
rades had rather increased with his alb
sencd. He had been detailed from his
company, and his return to ii rs Jack
son ordered an advance and everybody
knew that battle would be raging
within couple of hours proved his
metal in the eyes of all. And yet not
over dozen men in the company had a
nod Or word for him. Ike Baxter, un-
der the tutorship of his master, was car
rying out plan to drive him out in dis
grace.
He un's yere fur no good, and yo'
kin lay to that" Ike had whisnered
from man to man. Jist yo' fellers
keep yo'r eyes openl I'm gwine to do
it, and if he un tries to play the traitor
I'll put bullet straight into his car
cass' Mebbe he un kin fule Gineral
jackson, but he un can't play no Yam
kee tricks on me!'
AS they marched forward on the high
way Steve Brayton found opportunity
to say:
Look yere, Kenton. Ike's goin to
play yo' some onery trick if the chance
comes, and yo'd better be ready fur him.
He TN hates yo' like pizen, and he un's
tryin to make all the rest do the same"
mn, ~ hur
ton, but can you tell me the reason
for it2"
Reckon thar ar several. In the
fust place, yo' didn't happen to be BON
down yere, while Ike Baxter and the
rest Of US critters did. In the second,
- yo' took the shine out o. the officers at
Bull Run. In the third, as nigh as kin
make out, thar's gal in the case.
Looks to me like Ike had been hired to
talk agin yo'. AT any rate, he's got the
boys all stirred up, and yo'd better be
keerful not to git too fur ahead of the
crowd in case we hev fout down yeyei"
How does it happen that you are
not down ON me with the restT" asked
Kenton.
Reckon thar ar several reasons in
that too. Fustly, yo' could hey got
away to the Yankee army If yo had
wanted to. Yo' didn't, and that's a
purity good sign yo' un ar all right.
Mex fly, yo've got pluck, and | like
plucky man. No nextly, tho mo- men
we hev the less chance of my bein hit
myself Lastly, I've seen Captain Wyle
and Ike Baxter with their heads together
about yo', and I've heard that both
yo' and the captain was sweet on
the same gal, and I've sorter put two
and three together and made seven. I'm
goin to be right alongside o. yo' in this
fout. cause like yo'r way O. fightin,
but 20 jist mind what tell yo' Tho
bullet which hits yo' today is liable to
come from our side.'
Jackson 5 command, numbering not
quite 5000 men, made a rapid march
of 10 miles down the valley to strike
blow at General Shields command of
5000. They were waiting for the Con-
federates. Jackson attacked at once.
Even while the rear of his marching
column was still two miles away he at
tackled, 1t was fierce and bitter fight.
AS daylight began to give way to twi-
light on that dismal March afternoon
the guards were ordered to charge a
battery which was making portion of
the Confederate line untcnable. They
dashed forward to be met by yolley
which killed or wounded dozen men,
and swift move on the part of Fed
eral regiment resulted i'll the capture of
nearly ono-half Of the others. An hour
later jackson was retreating. He had
been defeated
Ike Baxter was among the wounded
With others he was taken to the field
hospital to be cared for, while tho un-
wounded were marched to the rear and
placed under guard. Ike had been hit
in the shoulder While his hurt was
being dressed he said to the surgeon.
7 II Yankee deserts to our side and
fights asin yo' uns, what happens to he
un II yo captur' himf'i
e He'd be shol!" was the blunt reply.
g But s'posin he un also played spy
fur our side?"
= He'd be hung instead of shotl Do
you know of such case?"
q Reckon / do, and feel it my dooty
to tell yo' about him. Jist tell yo'r
gineral to inquar among the prisoners
fur man named Kenton-Royal Ken
ton He un's a Yankee deserter and a
spy fur Gineral Jackson't
But why do you tell of it2'' queried
the surgeon.
= Cause 1t amt fair deal.
Eialf an hour later Kenton was taken
before General Shields under the charge
made by Baxter. The latter had over
reached himself Had only the two
been captured 1t would have been diff
ferent matter, but there We're 20 of the
guards who gave testimony in favor Of