The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-04-19

.TD
Caster posted his brigade and then opened
IRE rtth Il battery.
hang on fur awhile aud lot 'em SEQ we
haiu't skeort. Yesterday | tiggered that
one Confederate could lick about seven
Yankees in any sort O. scrimmage, but
dod rot my buttons if things don't look
different today
The earthwork sheltered them from
the shot and she'll Of the artillery, and
keutun ordered tho little band to be
ready for the dash he knew would sooner
or later DO made. Tho Federals could
be seen dismounting just outside of
musket range, and as a force Of about
500 were moving out to charge the fort
held by the major he ERASED Il white ilaa
in token Of surrender. The other two
refused to be bound by his action, but
one of ,heln was charged with cheers
and hurrahs and captured after firing a
single yolley.
WAL, Yank, what the word now"
asked one Of Kentou's men as all real.
lied the stab of affairs.
"Fightl' was the brief reply.
Il allus knowed he un was game.
Three cheers for Kenton!' shouted Steve
Brayton.
They were given with a will, but be-
fore the echoes had died away Clusters
entire battery WAS turned against the
fort, while a hundred dismounted men
crept within rife shot and opened a fire
which obliged the defenders to remain
inactive. Kenton knew that the FIRE
would cease as a charge was about to
be made. This, owing to the nature Of
The ground, could only be made from
one direction and by a small body Of
men. The lull came, and under cover
Of the smoke 200 dismounted men of
the Fifth Michigan dashed forward.
They were received by a yolley which
staggered and checked them, and while
rallying the little band had time to re-
load. One more v)lley sent the troop
ers back to cover, and Steve Brayton
threw his hat into the air and shouted:
I'VE uns has just licked the hull
Yankee army right ont Of its butes and
ar gwine to march on Washington
Kenton expected another charge with
in 10 minutes, but instead of that Chs
ter sent in a flag Of truce and a demand
to surrender. He stated that an at
tempt to hold the position after all the
others had been taken was simply a
reckless waste Of human life. He knew
their exact number and knew they had
neither food nor water. They had proved
themselves brave men, and he trusted
they would now realize the situation
and accept it as brave men should.
Kenton read the note aloud, so that all
could hear, and when he had finished it
he said:
We might stop another charge, but
they are certain to capture us in the
end. / advise surrender
There were a few dissenters, but IS
minutes later the % men had marched
out and grounded their arms in token
Of surrender, Their captors were men
who could appreciate bravery, no mat
ter by whom displayed. As tho surren.
der was made 1000 troopers waved
their hats and Cheered.
II am not an officer, and / therefore
have no sword to surrender" said Ken
ton as General Custer rode to the head
Of the short line and seemed somewhat
astonished to find only private soldiers.
But who commanded In there"
asked the general.
: II gave what orders were given, sir. "
Well the southern confoderacy made
n miss of it IN not making you a captain
long ago. Had the other forts held out
as pluckily as you did we should have
mad a hard fight to get ut the stores"
While a list Of tho prisoners was be-
ing made out and the arms collected the
troopers Turned their attention TO the
stores. THIS idea was not to teinoye but
to destroy them. Tho quickest way to
do it was to apply tho torch, and in the
course Of an hour everything was in
flames. Tho Confederate major had, as
stated, Surrendered the fort ho occupied
with about 80 Of the men without firing
a shot. A court martial would have
promptly exoncrated him from the
charge Of cowurdice had - been made,
for tho situation was NJ n hopeless.
That one Of the forts sho,ud have held
out aud that the high private in com.
mand of it should have been compli-
monted for his bravery ranlled in tho
majors heart. Ito received permission
to enter the field where the rank and
file were surrounded by a Federal guard,
and searching out Royal Kcnton no an
glily demanded:
by what authority did you presume
TO hold that fort after my surrender Of
tho post2'
I'VE did not know that your 'surren-
der included more than the fort you
were holding" replied Kenton.
Captain Wylo told me something
about you before no left" continued
the major. che regarded You with the
greatest suspicion. 1t would not have
surprised me had you surrendered first
Of all"
81 believe that honor was left TO you,
sir" quietly replied Kenton.
"Ifooray fur tho Yank- three cheers
fur Kenton!' shouted the excitablo
Steve. And they were given by tho
whole force of C~onfederates with great