Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-06-23
CHAPTER X.

reys. fields and forests. its houses. barns
mil sheds. its every breeze by day and
ri.ht FIR three long years, echoed the
frrr shouts of contestants and the
.r.uns of wounded men. Nature made
\ IL % garden. War converted ii into a
i vast graveyard.
4 Tie F,dCrnls had begun their march
-n tGg valley from Harpor's Ferry.
i Jackson was ordered over TO bar the
way. historians may write with pref
rlgc and politicians speak in bitter
mss. LIT rs be- fair and conscientious.
s,.n u we cannot be neutral. Jack
\ .u fist battle was ON the broad fields
4 OIL. brrastown. All historians who have
WRIT. for the future have pronounced
b.In % wonderful man in the science of
w,r. B'fuSc his command was fairly in
tlr valley Royal kcnton and others
v.r. Tar ahead, scouting for informa-
nuu. Their reports decided Jackson on
moving swiftly mp and attacking the
fultals ~ they reached Kcrnstown.
lir WIS houton back and fairly routed.
hut that vas to bc tho first and only
amr.
As Jackson's own brigade swcpt for-
ward into the fight Kentun was in the
lrk' of the Shenandoah guards. On
bis right was Steve Brayton. on his left
U.s. Baxter. He had known but little
q his company since detailed for scout
day. He OWNED that Captain Wylc's
bitterness had intensified. and that tho
Prejudice against him among his COM
laI0s had rather increased with his alb
srro. He had been detailed from his
company. and his return TO it rs Jack
,Uu ordered an advance and everybody
suw that n battle would be- raging
within couple Of hours proved his
mrtJl in tiie eyes OF all. And vet not
over dozen men in the company had n
H.dnr word for him. Ike Baxter, nm
Nr the tutorshipo of his master, was car
s.ins out plan to drive him out in dis
--grn.
lie un's yere fur no good. and yo'
s'E l1y 10 that!' Ike had whispered
nom man To- man. 'Jist yo' fcllers
s''p yo'r eyes open! I'm gwino to do
r and II he I'M tries to play the traitor
TIL put bullet straight into his car
Cssi MCbho he TN kin fulc Gineral
Jackson. but he I'm can't play no Yam
aur tricks ON mo!'
As they marched forward on the high
way steve Brayton found opportunity
g. say:
Look yere, Kenton. Ike's goin to
play 20 some oncry trick if the chance
comes, and yo'd better be ready fur him.
h' TN hates yo' like pizen, and he un's
irrln To mako all the rest do the same"
Il am aware of that, replied Ken
ton, bat can you tell me tho reason
for it,"
Reckon thar ar several. In the
fast place. yo' didn't happen to be BON
down varc, while Ike Baxter and the
r"st of Us critters did. In the second,
yo' TOOK the shine ont o. the officers ut
Bull Run. In the third. rs nigh as | kin
maEo ont. thar : n gal in the case
Looks to mo like Ike had been hired to
talk acin go. ut any rate. he's got the
t"ys all stirred up. and yo'd better be
Errful mot to- git too fur ahead of the
crowd in cas-. We hrv fout down ycrc."
How docs it happen that You are
not down on me with the rcst:" asked
Louton.
Reckon thar ar several reasons in
uiat too. Fustly. yo' could hcv got
away To- the Yankee army if yo' had
wanted 81. 70 didn't. and that's n
lIrty good sign yo' TIN ar all right.
a.Ntly. yu'vo got pluck, and like
'H"hy man. Mo ncxtly, the mo- men
"" hoy the less chance of my lsin hit
I'. u. Lastly, I've seen Captain WYE
"Ht us, EaStut with their heads together
d.ut yp', and I've heard that both
l' and the captain was sweet on
90. same gal. and I've sortcr put two
ul tur"u together and made seven. I'm
gIin 10 %" right alongside a. yo' in this
i1i cause lik" yo'r way a. fightiu,
hHt so list mind what tell yo'! The
bullet which hits yo' today is liable 10
come from our lr!''
dJcksun's command. numbering not
cutie 5000 men. made rapid march
"t 30 miles down the valley To- strike n
low at General Shields command OF
HhHo. They were waiting for the Con
i'loratcs. Jackson attacked Mt once.
Even Will" the rear of his marching
column was still two miles away he at
Irs"d. u was fierce and bitter fight.
as daylight began 60 give way To- twi-
htht on that dismal March afternoon
tlo guards wcru ordered To- charge n
la't"ry which was making n portion of
tl' Confederate limo untenablc. They
"lShod forward 10 he met by volley
which killed or wounded "a dozen men,
a'd swift move on tho part of n Fed
''1l regiment resulted in the capture of
h'arly one-half of tho others. An hour
L'''r Jackson was rotrcating. He had
Deem defeated.
Ike Baxter was among the wounded.
Win others no was taken to tho field
hospital Co he cared for, while tho I'M
wounded were marched to the rear and
placed under guard. Ike had been init
u. the shoulder. While his hurt was
being dressed he said to the surgeon:
Ii "a Yankee deserts to our side and
nghts agin yo' uns, what happens to he
VA 1t yo' captur' him.
He'd bo shot" was tho blunt reply.
But s'posin no un also played spy
iur our side;"
He'd DO hung instead Of shot! Do