The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-05-16
CHAPTER vi

Only a small portion of the Confeder-
ate forces made pursuit Of the retreat
ing Federal army and that so slowly
that there was no fighting. The regi-
ment to which the Shenandoah guards
was attached moved down from the
plateau and went into camp. 1t bad
been broken and defeated, and yet it
had rallied and won a reputation. Ev-
cry one of the 10 companies had been
more or less d~isorganized, but the
guards perhaps worst of all. That this
company should have been led back
into the hottest of the fight by a private,
and that it should have brought off the
field one Of the guns over which the
fight had been so bloody, furnished occa-
sion for remarks throughout the entire
brigade.
Duke Wyle was no coward. There
wasn't a faint of raw blood in his
veins. It was so also with his fellow
lieutenant. The fall Of the captain and
the rush of the Federals had stampeded
officers as we'll as men. War was a
new thing, and few had served an ap-
premiership. Wyle followed the COM
pany back, but in the hurly burly be-
came separated from it. He knew it was
Royal Kenton carrying the flag and
leading. He saw the gun brought off.
and he saw General Jackson halt the
coatless, hatless and powder begrimed
men to question them.
Hes a brick even if he is q Yankee,
and I'll shake hands with him." said
the lieutenant to himself as be advanced
to rejoin his company.
That was Duke Wyle, the man. He
hadn't taken 80 steps before Duke Wyle,
the rival lover, cursed the luck which
had given to another all the glory he
had hoped to win, and he growled:
Il owe him another for this, and !
can't pay him off any too soon!"
The first man Of his company he en-
countered was Steve Brayton. If Steve
had given way in the knees before the
fight opened, he had pulled himself to-
gether in good shape as soon as he
smelled powder. He had been the first
man to turn and follow Kenton, and he
had fought beside him to capture the
gun.
"Waal, lootenant," grinned Steve as
he awkwardly saluted, .I kept my eye
on that Yankee all the time, but I
didn't hev to shoot him."
Course him, but what business had
he to assume command of the COM
pany?" replied Wyle. II was just
about to halt and reform when you fools
all rushed off after him."
"Yes-I see!" remarked Steve. "but
I wouldn't find any fault if I was so.
We uns is the only company in the regi-
ment which captured a cannon, and the
boys feel as peart as game chickens
about it. Reckon / wouldn't say nuth-
in agin the Yankee either! 1t won't
look exactly right, you see!"
"You and the Yankee have suddenly
become bosom friends" sneered the Of
fcer.
.Not exactly, lootenant, but I hain't
got nuthin agin him no mo-. If he un's
a Yankee spy, we orter hev about 49,
900 mo- of 'em on our side!!
Late that evening after the stragglers
had rejoined their commands and order
had been brought out of confusion Lieu
tenant Wyle received an order to report
at brigade headquarters. On his arrival
he was admitted to the presence of Gen
eral Jackson, who had that day won
his famous sobriquet of "~Stonewall.
Lieutenant Wyle," said the general
as he received him, Il am sorry to learn
that your captain is so severely wound.
ed that it will be months before he Will
be able to take the field again. l saw
him in the field hospital two hours ago
and congratulated him on the herolsm
displayed by his company. Wish
also to congratulate you, and through
you each and every man. That was a
grand rally made in the face OF dlsas-
ter One Of your men acted like a hero