The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-07-11

found many that he could identify. In
deed a full half of his own company
had been wiped out, and among them
was Ike Baxter. But great as was the
Confederate less, that Of the Federals
was severe. History has said of that
first real cavalry fight of the war that
it was terribly brief in duration and ap-
palling in its list of dead and wounded.
It was almost night of the day follow
ing the fight before the last of the Fed
erals moved off and left the field. And
how changed was Rest Haven, and what
a misnomer the title which had been
given to it in the years of peace! Gin
de1s and ashes showed where the houses
had stood. Across the plain, furrowed
by shot and shell and hoof, its snow
white carpet now spattered and blotched
by thousand blood stains, they had
dug long trenches and covered in the
dead. Trees had been cut down, bushes
uprooted, and over acres of ground was
strewed the wreck Of battle.
have but few more pages to write.
MY story has not been all romance. and
it is with feeling of selfshness that /
part from those Of my characters who
are with as in the flesh today, and whose
hands have held in mine within the
last twelEemonth. At the opening Of my
story Winchester was described as a
quaint old town. That was true Of it
a quaint old town of quaint houses and
streets and people. War wrecked it
again and again. Every street and
square and alley witnessed a death grap-
pie. Every building which escaIed the
flames was marked Ey ball or bullet. A
few months ago | looked in vain for
trace of war. Here and there quaint
old house still stands, but the town is
full of the hustle of these rushing days.
Ah, but there was trace OF war after
all Up in the cemetery skirted by the
Berryville pike found grave after grave
in which soldiers slept their last long
sleep, each name engraved on the stone.
and behind them the pitiful spot over
which all may sorrow, but no one weep
the resting place of the unknown. >
It was many days ere Kenton or Mar
ian or Mrs. Baxter walked in the sum
shine. In the case Of the latter perhaps
it was better that her mind groped in
the darkness, and that it was months
before she could realize her widowhood.
General Custer kindly sent her on to
Washington for treatment, ,and for weeks
and weeks she kept calling out:
Ike said he'd go fur help to captur'
the Yankee, but he hain't dun come
back yit. Ike's goin to be great ossi-
fer and hev sword and prancin crit
ter, and I'll hold up my head with any
of 'em.'
Where is Uncle Pen? Gone to his
rest years ago, but he lived to see the
end Of the war and to enjoy fora sea-
son the haven of rest which kind hearts
created for him.
There was a marriage in Winchester
about two months after the battle OF
Rest Haven. They called it military
marriage, because more than 80 Federal
officers attended, because Federal
chaplain ofhciated, because Federal
band serenaded the happy couple. Who
do you think gave away the bride? Gen
eral Custer, who became a groom him
self only few days later. Royal Ken
ton had recovered from his wound, and
the keen edge of Marian's grief had
been somewhat dulled by lapse Of time
and the excitement of her surroundings.
It was better so. Kenton was not held
for exchange under the circumstances,
nor did any one wish him to become a
renegade by joining the Federal service.
After the marriage the bridal couple.
accompanied by Uncle Ben, went north
and there remained till the close of the
war. Steve Brayton was asked to 60
nay, almost commanded-but he replied
See yere, Yank, I've bin thinkin and
thinkin, and make it out this way: l
so1te1 owed the confederacy a grudge
fur the way it treated yo', and hevln
paid it off and squared the debt l orter
90 back. Thar won't be nuthin said
about yo' arter the war, bekase 20 was
actually driv out, but the boys would
rub it in on me purity heavy to the day
of my death. I'll jest surrender over
again to this Yankee army, wait to be
exchanged and in due time become a
good Confed again.
And that was the course he followed,
and when I shook hands with him III
Winchester last spring was proud to
give him his title as lieutenant. Did
the match please Uncle Ben: Hear
what he says as he congratulates the
bride:
NOW, Miss Sunshine, yo' all has dun
gone an married Mars Kenton, an it
does jest seem to me dat at walkin
round on aigs! Hu! But when l was
e s.
NA&Sah ~