The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-06-06

memory is reverenced. It will live
there until every soldier and soldiers
son and grandson sleeps beneath the
sod. The plains of northern Virginia
were given up to fierce battles between
infantry, the valleys to desperate charges
and bloody conflicts between the oppos-
ing cavalry forces.
Jackson had looked his last upon the
Shenandoah. He was to become Lees
right arm and fight elsewhere until his
fall in the darkness on the bush lined
highway at Charlottesville. Another
took his place. and the dead Ashby was
replaced by Stuart to lead the cavalry.
Let us go back to Royal Kenton. We
left him just as Reube Parker had been
made prisoner by a Federal scouting
party. Reube basely sought to betray
him, hat he failed Of his purpose. The
Federal captain beat up the neighbor-
hood as thoroughly as possible, but Ken
ton slipped through his fingers and re-
turned to Jackson to make his report.
It was his information, seconded no
doubt by that of others, which decided
Jackson's move to Front Royal. While
the general seemed pleased at Kenton's
success, the latter could not fail to per
ceive that something was yet amiss. In
his own mind he felt lure that he was
mistrusted. and it was easy to conclude
why. Not that he had failed in any one
particular to do his duty, but that the
officers and men Of his own company,
for reasons, already. given, were. seeking
his downfall. When he had finished
his report, he was ordered to his COM
pany, and again he found only one man
to give him greeting. Steve Brayton
chuckled with satisfaction as he extend
ed his hand and asked for particulars.
The others only gave him looks Of dis
trust. When Kenton was asked regard
ing Reube Parker and had made his e1-
plantations, Steve grew thoughtful and
serious and finally replied:
Its a good joke on the captain. but
I'm troubled as to how it will end up.
l Jest reckon they ar mean huff to
charge yo' with KILN Reube. They
can't prove it, but it will get the gin
eral down on yo' and make things wuss.
bod blast the fules anyway! Why cant
they give yo' a far show even if yo' be
a Yank?"
The crisis came next day. Reube
Parker had been carried into the Fed
eral camps as a prisoner, but owing to
the confusion and excitement was not
strictly guarded and managed to make
his escape and arrive at Confederate
headquarters less than "a hours after
Kenton. After a brief interview with
Captain Wyle the pair proceeded to
General Jackson's headquarters, and
when they left it Royal Kenton was
sent for. General Jackson was a plain,
blunt spoken man. Even while plan
ming the great campaign on which he
was to enter within three or four days
he had determined to give this matter
attention. Reube Parker had charged
Kenton with bringing about his capture
for revenge. Captain Wyle had stated
that he and all his company dist1usted
his loyalty. The general asked the scout
for a statement of facts, and Kenton
gave it to him, %concealing nc occurrence
from the date Of his enlistment. The
general listened attentively and without
interruption. Then Reube Parker, who
had been sent fer and was in waiting,
was ushered in to confront Kenton. he
was a bad man, but not a nervy one. In
FIVE minutes it was apparent that he had
lied, and he was dismissed. Then Ken
ton was asked to step out, and Steve
Brayton, whom he had several times re-
ferred to-, was ushered in. He told a
straight story, and it was greatly to the
discredit of Captain Wyle. When Ken
ton again returned to the generals pres
ence, the latter kindly said:
1T is a matter | very much regret,
and I do not see how ear mendit just
yet. l will, however, do what I think
is best for all.
That best" resulted in both Kenton
and Brayton being detailed temporarily
to the quartermaster's department.
When Jackson moved away for the Lu-
ray valley, all the guards were mount