The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-06-13

Custer posted his brigade and then opened
fire 1Cith o. battery.
Kenton ordered the little band to be
ready for the dash he knew would sooner
or later be made. The 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 raised a white flag
in token of surrender. The other two
refused to be bound by his action, but
one of them was charged with cheers
and hurrahs and captured after firing a
single volley.
WAL, Yank, what 8 the word now?''
asked one of Kenton's men as all real
lied the sta Of affairs.
Eighth was the brief reply.
"I 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 rifle 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 v
of the smoke 200 d~ismounted men of
the Fifth Michigan dashed forward.
They were received by a volley which
staggered and checked them, and while
rallying the little band had time to re-
load. One more volley 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 out of its butes and
ar gwine to march on Washington!
Kenton expected another charge with
in 10 minutes, but instead of that Gus
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. l advise surrender"
There we're a few %dissenters, but is
minutes later the % men bad 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 the su1ren-
der was made 1000 troopers waved
their hats and cheered.
81 am not an officer, and l 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 confederacy made
a 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
had a hard fight to get at the stores.
While a list of the prisoners was be-
ing made out and the arms collected the
troopers turned their attention to the
stores. The idea was not to remove but
to destroy them. The quickest way to
do it was to apply the torch, and in the
course of an hour everything was in
flames. The Confederate major had, as
stated, surrendered the fort he occupied
with about 80 of the men without firing
a shot. A court martial would have
promptly exonerated him from the
charge Of cowardice had it been made,
for the situation was almost hopeless.
That one of the forts should have held
out and that the high private in COM
mand of it should have been compli-
mented for his bravery ranked in the
majors heart. He received permission
to enter the field where the rank and
file were surrounded by a Federal guard,
and searching out Royal Kenton he an
g1ily demanded:
"By what authority did you presume
to hold that fort after my surrender OF
the post::"
I'VE did not know that your surren-
der included more than the fort you
were holding" replied Kenton.
Captain Wyle told me something
about you before he left" continued
the major. He 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.
"Hooray fur the Yank-three cheers
fur Kenton!!" shouted the excitable
Steve. And they were given by the
whole force of Confederates with great
enthusiasm.
Il fully understand your motive,
l. A.