The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-05-23

rades had rather increased with his alb
sence. He had been detailed from his
company, and his return to it as jack
son ordered an advance and everybody
knew that a battle would be raging
within a couple of hours proved his
metal in the eyes Of all. And yet not
over a dozen men in the company hada
nod or a word for him. Ike Baxter, IN
der the tutorship of his master, was car
rying out a plan to drive him ont in dis
grace.
"He un's yere fur no good, and 20
kin lay to that!" Ike had whispered
from man to man. 'Jist yo' fe'lers
keep yo'r eyes open! I'm gwine to do
it, and if he IN tries to play the traitor
I'll put a bullet straight into his car
cass! Mebbe he un kin fu1e Gineral
Jackson, but he IN can't play no Yam
kee tricks on me!'
AS they marched forward on the high
way Steve Brayton found opportunity
to say:
Look yere, Kenton. Ike's goln to
play yo' some emery trick if the chance
comes, and yo'd better be ready fur him.
He IN hates 20 like pizen, and he un's
tryip to make all the rest do the same"
81 am aware Of that" replied Ken
ton, "but can you tell me the reason
for it?"
Reckon char ar several. In the
fust place, yo' didn't happen to be bon
down yere, while Ike Baxter and the
rest Of US critters did. In the second,
yo' took the shine out o. the officers at
Bull Run. In the third, as nigh as / kin
make out, thar's a gal in the case.
Looks to me like Ike had been hired to
talk agin yo'. At any rate, he's got the
boys all stirred up, and yo:d better be
keerful not to git too fur ahead Of the
crowd in case we hev fout down yere!"
How does it happen that you are
not down on me with the rest?:" asked
Kenton.
Reckon thar ar several reasons in
that too. Fustly, yo' could hev got
away to the Yankee army if yo' had
wanted to. Yo' didn't, and that's a
purity good sign yo' IN ar all right.
Nextly,-yo've got pluck, and I like a
plucky man. Mo- nextly, the mo- men
we hev the less chance Of my bein hit
myself. Lastly, I've seen Captain Wyle
and Ike Baxter with their heads together
about yo', aud I've heard that both
yo' and the captain was sweet on
the same gal, and I've sorter put two
and three together and made seven. I'm
goin to be right alongside O. yo' in this
fout, cause I like yo'r way o fghtin.
but yo' jist mind what l tell 10! The
bullet which hits 20 today is liable to
come from our side!"
Jackson's command. numbering not
quite 5000 Inen, made a rapid march
of 40 miles down the valley to strike a
blow at General Shields command Of
5000. They were waiting for the Con
federates. jackson attacked at once.
Even while the rear Of his marching
column was still two miles away he at
tackled. It was a fierce and bitter fight.
AS daylight began to give way to twl-
light on that dismal March afternoon
the guards were ordered to charge g
battery which was making u portion Of
the Confederate line untenable. They
dashed forward to be met by a volley
which killed orsWqnndeda dozen. men,
and a swift move on the part OF e Fed
eral regiment resulted in the capture of
nearly ene-half of the others. An hour
later Jackson was retreating. He had
been defeated.
Ike Baxter was among the wounded.
With others he was taken to the field
hospital to be cared for, while the IN
wounded were marched to the rear and
placed under guard. Ike had been hit
in the shoulder. While his hurt was
being dressed he said to the surgeon:
TO BIZ CONTINUED.