Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1897-06-11
A SOLDIER HERO.
A Wounded Soldiers Courage in the
Face Of Almost Certain
Death,


county, was a member of the late legisla-
ture. and one of the most genial gentle
men in the body. He had been county
treasurer of Marshall county for four
years prior to his election to the legisla-
ture. He was born May 2, 1874, at Cory,
Wexford county, Ireland, and came to
the United States in 1850, and with his
parents located in Chicago where he went
to school for some years. His father
moved to Clinton where Sam was al
school when the rumble of the cannons'
thunder at Fort Sumpter rolled over the
land. Sam came from country where
fighters grow, and Of course he enlisted.
He Joined Company E. Goth Illinois
Infantry, and his regiment formed part
Of the II Army Corps. He was wounded
at Kennesaw Mountain, but continued
with his regiment until the troops took
position in front of Atlanta. He was on
crutches AS the battle warmed up and
grew hotter, Sam threw away his
crutches, and as the line was driven back
the first time, he picked up musket and
went in with the boys. The line was
driven back three times and the color
sergeant fell with the colors, and no one
had time to secure the flag. At the close
of the terrible struggle, the lines of both
armies occupied the same ground as at the
opening, and the colors of the Goth lay
on the ground surrounded by dead and
wounded, and not far from the rebel line,
and within range OF either army. The
colonel of the Goth saw his flag IN danger
of being captured by the enemy. and
rather than risk a charge 70 capture it,,
as the rebel line vas well protected, he
eyed Denton who was looking at the flag
over among the dead and dying. The
colonel asked Sam if he thought he could
recover the flag, and Sam said he would
try. Away he went out into the open
backed by thousands of brave men, and
marched on in face of thousands of
equally brave men. He told the writer
at Pierre last winter that he was "hardly
able to walk. ':'and that he expected to
feel the sting of rebel bullet at every
step. I marched on, he said, knowing
that they couldn't kill me but once. 1
kept my eye on the rebel line, and I saw
the rebs watching me as l gradually
neared their line. I saw many muskets
raised and expected every step would be
my last, but on I went. I never looked
behind, but kept my eyes on the men
who held my fate In their hands.
reached the colors and raised them, then
l saluted the enemy, turned around and
started back. The boIdness of the act
evidently won respect from the rebels,
for not a shot was fired. The rebels
evidently admired the bravery of the act
and were thus silent. was afterwards
the Mcpherson medal for brav-
cry, an emblem of the war prize very
highly" This is the brief story Of
soldiers duty, performed cheerfully In
the face of what looked like certain
death. Sam Denton is true blue, and
will never desert a friend. He will
probably be the next state senator from
Marshall county, and he is we'll entitled
to the honor, because it was through his
hard work that he got Marshall county
cut off and made into separate district.
county has reason to be proud
Of him, and the LEADER believes the
people up there will make no mistake
when they honor Sam Denton with any
office.