Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-06-23


fire Uith q battery.
hang on fur awhile and let'em see we
hain't skeert.. Yesterday I 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 earthwork sheltered them from
the shot and shell of the artillery, and
kentou ordered the little band to be
ready for the dash he knew would sooner
or later be made. The Federals could
be seen dismounting just outside of
musket range, and as a force of about
500 were moving out to charge the fort
held by the major he raised a white flag
IN token of surrender. The other two
refused to be bound by his action. but
one of them was charged vita cheers
and hurrahs and captured after firing a
single volley.
"Waal, Yank, what's the word now?''
asked one of Kenton's men as all real
lied the sta so of affairs.
Eight" was the brief reply.
81 allus knowed he un was game.
Three cheers for Kentonl' shouted Steve
Brayton.
They were given with a will, but be-
fore the echoes had died away Clusters
entire battery was turned against the
fort, while n hundred d~ismounted men
cropt within rifle shot and opened a 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.a small body of
men. The lull came, and under cover
of the smoke 200 ~dismounted men of
the Fifth Michigan dashed forward.
They were received by a volley which
staggered and checked them, and while
rallying the little band had time to re-
load. One more yolley sent the troop
ers back to cover, and Steve Brayton
threw his hat into the air and shouted
I'VE 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 a flag of truce and a demand
to surrender. He stated that an at
tempt to hold the position after all the
others had been taken was simply a
reckless waste of human life. He knew
their exact number and knew they had
neither food nor water. They had proved
themselves brave men, and he trusted
they would now realize the situation
and accept it as brave men should.
kenton 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 III the
end. | advise surrender.
There were a few dissenters, but Is
minutes later the % 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 1000 troopers waved
their hats and cheered.
Il am not an officer, and l 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 there!"
asked the general.
II gave what orders were given. sir. -
"Well the southern confederacy made
a miss of it in not making you a captain
long ago. Had tie other forts held out
as pluckily as you did we should have
had a hard fight to get at the stores"
While a list of the prisoners was be-
ing made ont and the armSscollected the
troopers turned their attention TO the
stores. The idea was not TO remove but
to destroy them. The quickest way to
do it 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 the
charge of cowardice had ii been made,
for the situation was almost hopeless.
That one Of the forts should have held
out and that the high private in CON-
mand Of 1t should have been compli-
mented for his bravery ranked in the
majors heart. lie received permission
to enter the field where the rank and
file were surrounded by a Federal guard,
and searching ont Royal Kenton he an
| g1i1y demanded: