The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-04-20

IRE tcith q bdtterH
hang on fur awhile and let 'eln see we
hain't skeert. Yesterday figgered that
one Confederate could lick about seven
Yankees in any sort O scrimmage, but
dod rot my buttons if things don't look
different today"
The carthwork sheltered them from
the shot and shell Of the artillery. and
kenton ordered tho little band to be
Ready ior the dash he knew would sooner
OF later he mafle. The Federals could
1e seen diamounting Just outside of
lnuskct range, ami as force of about
5N0 were moving out to charge the fort
held hy the major he raised white flag
in token of surrender. The other two
refused to be bound by his action, but
one of them WIS charged with cheers
aud hurrahs and captured after firing
single Wiley.
"Waai, Yank, what S the word now"
asked one Of kenton's men as all real
lied the staa9 of affairs.
"Fightl' was the brief reply.
~ allus knowed he nm was game.
Three cheers for Kenton!" shouted Steve
BraSton.
Thay We're given with a will, but be-
fore the echoes had died away Clusters
entire battery was turned against the
foEt, while hundred dismeunted men
crept within rifle shot and opened fire
which obliged the defenders to remain
inactive. Kenton knew that the fire
would cease as a charge WAS about to
be made. This, owing to the nature of
the ground, could only be made from
one direction and by small body of
men. The lull came, and under cover
of the smoke 300 dismounted men of
the Fifth Michigan dashed forward.
They were received by volley which
staggefed and checked them, and while
rallying the little band had time to re-
load. One more volley sent the troop
ers back to cover, and Steve Brayton
threw his hat into the air and shoutad:
We uns has just licked the hull
Yankee army right out of its butes and
ar gWine to march on Washington.''
Kenton expected another charge with
In 10 minutes, but instead Of that Gus
ter sent in flag of truce and demand
TO surrender. He stated that an at
tempt to hold the position after all the
others had been taken was simply
reckless waste of human life. He knew
their exact number and knew they had
neither food nor water. THY had proved
themselves brave men, and he trusted
they would now realize the situation
and accept it as brave men should.
konton read the note aloud, so that all
could hear, and when he had finished it
he said:
1--WE might stop another charge, but
they are certain to capture us in the
end. l advise surrender.
There were few dissenters, but 10
minutes later the 20 men had marched
out and grounded their arms in token
of surrender. Their captors were men
who could appreciate bravery, no mat
ter by whom displayed. As the su1ren-
Der was made 4,0OO troopers waved
their hats and oheered.
am not an officer, and therefore
have no sword to surrender, said Ken
ton as General Custer rode to the head
of the short line and seemed somewhat
astonished to find only private soldiers.
But who commanded in therel"
asked the general.
~ gave what orders were given, sir"
well, the southern confederacy made
miss of it in not making you captain
long ago. Had the other forts held out
as pluekily as you did we should have
had a hard fight to get at the stores.
While list of the prisoners was be-
ing made out and the arms collected the
troopers turned their attention to the
stores. The idea was not to 1emove but
to destroy them. The quickest way to
do 1t was to apply the torch, and in the
course of an hour everything was in
flames. The Confederate major had, as
stated, surrendered the fort he occupied
with about so of the men without firing
a shot. A court martial would have
promptly exonerated him from tho
charge Of cowardice had 1t boon made,