The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-04-06
CHAPTER VII.

After Bull Run Federals and Confed-
crates began making earnest prepara-
tions for war. The holiday was over.
There was no longer talk of 80 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 and 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
sions came from the secretary Of war
all noncommissioned officers were duly
appointed. Duke Wyle was commi0.
stoned captain Of the Shenandoah
guards, the second lieutenant was ad-
vanced, and the orderly sergeant was
promoted to a lieutenancy. Among
those who secured brief turloughs were
! Captain Wyle and Steve Brayton. The
/ latter reached home first. The story Of
the battle was known, but the story of
the rally--the incident which had di-
rected General Jackson's attention 10
Royal Kenton--was news to the people
and great surprise. Brayton had no
ueed to ezaggerate facts to compel cheers
for the Yankee" as Kenton was still
called. He told the story over and over
again, always to al interested audience,
and he always wound up with the OBJ
servatiou:
Il reckon yo' all knew that l was
agin him and kinder hoped to put on
the tar and feathers, but I've changed
my mind. Durn my hide if / don't t
wish he was captain Of our company"
One day as he passed the Percy man
sion Marian was at 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 l Of the part taken by our own COM
pany? We are 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 a rude diagram
on the boards, Steve Brayton kept them
deeply interested for an hour.
You 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 officers:"
"Runnin as fast as the rest Of us. "
"And Mr.. Kenton rallied you:"
"He did, ma'am. Abner Jenkins was
carryin our company flag, and he tum-
|bled down and left it lyin on the ground.
was right behind him with Kenton,
hnd the Yankee lifts it up, waves il
about and yells for us to halt and rally.
And did the 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 l saw any OF
'en. Reckon they feel nightly cut up
bver it, fur they allus said the Yankee
wouldn't stand fire. "
Steve Brayton was not a close observ.
pr, or he might have discovered secret
that afternoon. Both mother and daugh.
Ter exhibited the greatest interest and
psked him many questions, and when
be took his departure he said to himself
"Durn my hide if they wasn't more
Interested thaH half the men!"
Two or three days later Captain Wyle
appeared, and Steve Brayton vanished.
The captain expected to create sensa.
ion, but was bitterly disappointed. Ev-
|rybody was friendly, but Brayton had
pld the story of the rally and put the
redit where it belonged. He had plen.
y Of excuses to urge, and his story was
uite different from Braytons, but
bmehow it failed to 60. While he was
congratulated on his promotion, which
vas strong evidence in itself of his good
tanding with his superior officers, he
ad not rallied his flying company and
bd it back, and no one could be quite
htisfed with his record. On the sec
pd evening of his arrival he called
pom the Percys. His sole reason fol
burning home at that time was t.
Aake this call. The victory which hC
ad helped to achieve, his promotion
he laudatory notices he had received
his home newspaper, all these thing
ent to make him believe that he woul(
accorded frank welcome by mothe,
Id daughter and that opportunit!
light be given him to plead his cause
The captains welcome was cordia
lough, and after the first salutatiC-
nversation naturally turned to tn,
pr. He took an early opportunity t
ughingly remark:
"Well, suppose you have heard al
pout our Yankee?"
ITO whom do you refer, captain?'
fly inquired Marian.
why, to Kenton, of course. | he
bye you both knew himi Ihad no idei
S,ss,