Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-06-16
CHAPTER VII

After Full Run Federals and Confed-
crates began making earnest prepara-
tons for war. The holiday was over.
There was no longer talk of go or 90
DAY campaign, of soldiers returning to
the farm in time to harvest the crops,
While the Federals gathered on the
plains of Arlington to learn the tactics
Of war the Confederates remained ON
the fields where their first victory had
been won and prepared for what was to
come. There was fighting in the west.
armies were being raised ard troops
moved in every direction, but we fol.
low only those which had confronted
each other on that famous field.
Organized and reorganize, drill, scout.
reconnaissance. arm and equip. In the
beginning the various companies had
been allowed to select their own officers
by ballot. After Bull Run all commits
sicns came from the secretary of war;
all noncommissioned officers we're duly
appointed. Duke Wyle was commits
stoned rsptain Of the Shenandoah
guards, u, second lieutenant was ad-
yanced, and the orderly sergeant was
promoted to n lieutenancy. Among
those who secured brief furloughs were
Captain Wyle and Steve Brayton. The
latter reached home first. The story of
the battle was known. but the story of
the rally-tbe incident which had di-
rccted General Jacksnn's attention to
Royal kenton-was news to the people
and great surprise. Brayton had no
fsgl tn A. tas.
for the Yankee as Kenton was still
called. He told the story over and over
again, always to an interested audience.
and he always wound up with the OBJ
scrvation:
II reckon yo' all knew that was
agin him and kinder hoped to put on
the tar and feathers, but I've changed
my mind. Durn my hide il / don't
wish he was captain of our companyv'
Ono day rs he passed the Percy man.
sion Marian was Mt the gate, seemingly
waiting for him.
II have read of the battle and heard
great deal of talk about it," she said.
but would You mind telling mother
and i of the part taken by our own COM
pany? We axe naturally more interest
ed in them than any other participants.
Sitting ON the veranda with mother
and daughter for an audience and using
piece of chalk to draw rude diagram
ON the boards. Steve Brayton kept them
deeply interested for an hour.
''Iou were at first driven back"
queried Marian when he had finished.
"Driv' right back like flock Of sheep.
and thar hain't no use to deny it., he
replied.
where were your ofIicers?"
"Runnin as fast as the rest of u.s."
And Mr.. Kenton rallied your"
"He did, ma am. Abner Jenkins was
carryin our company flag. and he tum-
blc;l down and left il lyin on the ground.
was right behind him with Kenton,
and the Yankee lifts it up, waves it
about and yClls for us to halt and rally"
And did tho officers rally, too:" per-
sisted Marian.
WAL, yes. but they was purity Glow
about it. We had got the cannon and
were DRAWN it off afore / saw any OF
EN-. Reckon they feel nightly cut up
over it, fur they allus said tho Yankee
wouldn't stand fire."
Steve BraytOn was not close obscrv-
er, or ne might have discovered Il secret
that afternoon. Both mother and t!augh-
ter exhibited the greatest interest and
asked him many questions, and when
he took his departure he said to himself:
"Durn my hide if they wasn't more
interested than half the men!'
Two or three days later Captain WYE
ya1 npIG Ill
The captain expected to create n sensa-
ton. but was bitterly disappointed. Ev-
erybody was friendly, but Brayton had
told the story of tho rally and pat the
credit where ii belonged. He had plen-
ty Of excuses to urge, and bis story was
quite different from Brayton's, but
somehow it failed to go. While he was
congratulated on his promotion, which
was strong evidence in itself Of his good
standing with his superior officers, he
had not rallied his flying company and
led it back. and no one could be quite
satisfied with his record. On the Sec
ond evening of his arrival he called
upon the Percys. His sole reason for
returning home mt that time was to
make this call. The victory which he
had helped to achieve, his promotion,
the Mandatory notices he had received
in his home newspaper, all these things
went TO make him believe that he would
lie accorded frank welcome by mother
and daughter and that opportunity
might he given him to plead his cause.
The captains welcome was cordial
enough, and after the first salutations
conversation naturally turned to the
war. He took an early opportunity to
laughingly remark:
"well. I suppose you have heard Mi
about our Yankeer'
ITO whom do you refer, captain"
stilliy inquired Marian.
why, to kenton, Of course. be-
licvo You both knew him? had no idea
that he could be induced TO enlist, and
am surprised that he did not desert to
his friends before the battle opened"
Mr.. Kenton believed it his duty rs
citizen of Virginia to take mp arms in
her cause" replied the mother.