Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-07-28
csaIptain.''

broken. struck in the groin by carbine
ball, announced the surgeon who made
rapid investigation.
Amy hope for me?" asked the cap
tain, whose lips had been moistened
with whisky, as it was observed that he
desired to speak.
The surgeon shook his head and mo-
toned to tho attendants to lit the Off
Ger aside. When they had left him,
Steve Brayton sat down beside him and
bathed his face with whisky and gave
him to drink. The captain had recog-
nized him at once, but it was several
minutes before he queried:
lyon and Kenton were in the fight
at Harrisonburg and were captured.
How came you here?''
I'VE uns made bolt fur it on the
road and got away"
'sAnd what has happened here?''
''Waal, Kenton was wounded, then
me and him stood off Ike Baxter and
his crowd, then the gals mother died,
then the gal and Kenton hev bin driv
away to the Yankee lines. Sorry fur
yo', cap, and sorry fur tho rest of 'em,
! fur our hull crowd has bin wiped off
the face of tho airth!''
Have we been defeated?"
Regularly cleaned out, cap. don t
believe hundred of our men got away.
'Cordin to what them doctors say, yo'
can't pull through this. Do yo' want to
leave any word with me?''
No" whispered the captain after a
moments thought.
. Not even fur the gal? She won't
bear no grudge when she hears yo' NJ :
dead. y g,ae
The captain shook his head and closed
his eyes. Steve moved away after q few
minutes to look for other Confederate
wounded, and two hours later the Off
GERS dead body was carried out with
others TO make room for the wounded.
When morning came and the dead
were gathered for burial, Steve Brayton
found many that he could identify. In
deed full half of his own company had
been wiped out, and among them was
Ike Baxter. But great as was the Con-
federate loss, that of the Federals was
severe. History has said of that first real
cavalry fight OF the war that it was ter
ribly brief in duration and appalling in
its list of dead and wounded. 1t was al
NEST night OF the day following the
| fight before the last of the Federals
moved off and left the field. And how
changed was Rest Haven, land what
misnomer the title which had been
given to it in the years of peace! Gin
ders 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 blotehed
by thousand blood stains, they had dug
long trenches and covered in the dead.
Trees had been cut down, bushes mp
rooted, 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
l part from those of my characters who
are with us in the flesh today, and whose
hands have held in mine within the
last twelvemonth. AT the opening of
my story Winchester wss 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 death Crap
pie. Every building which escaped the
flames was marked by ball or bullet. A
few months ago l 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 daya
All, but there was trace of war after
all. Up in the cemetery skiited 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 pitifnl spot over
which all may sorrow, but no one weep
the resting place of the unknown. "
1t was many days ere KeHton or Mar
ian or Mrs. Baxter walked in the sun
shine. In the case of the latter perhaps
it was better that her mind CROPPED in
the darkness, and that it was months be-
! fore 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 be hain't dun come
back yit Ike's goin TO be a great ossi-
fer and hev sword and prancin crit
ter, and I'll held up my head with any
| of 'em.''
Whereas Uncle Ben? Gone to his rest
years ago, but he lived to see the end of
the war and to enjoy for season the
haven of rest which kind hearts created
for him.
There was marriage in Winchester
about two months after the battle of
Rest Haven. They called it military
marriage, because more than so Federal
officers attended, because Federal
chaplain officiated, because a Federal
band serenaded the happy couple. Who
| do you think gave away the bride? Gen
eral Custer, who became groom him.
self only few days later. Royal Ken
ton had recovered from his wound, and
the keen edge of Marian 8 grief had been
somewhat dulled by lapse of time and
the excitement of her surroundings. 1t
was better SO. Kenton was not held for
exchange under the circumstances, nor
did any one wish him TO become a rene
gade 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 go
nay, almost communicable he replied
See yere, Yank, I've bin thinkin and
thinkin, and make il out this way: ]
sorter owed the eonfederacy a grudge
fur the way it treated yc', and hevin
| paid it off and squared the debt orter
4 /