The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-09-24

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His hours Tisit a1ds therefore q Uery
agreeable one.
"Fightl' was the brief reply.
"I allus knowed he un was game.
Three cheers for Kenton!" shouted Steve
Brayton.
They were given with will, but be-
fore the echoes had died away Clusters
entire battery was turned against the
fort, while hundred dismounted men
crept within rifle shot and opened fire
which obliged the defenders to remain
inactive. Kenton knew that the fire
would cease as charge was about to
be made. This, owing to the nature of
the ground, could only be made from
one direction and by 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 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 flag of truce and demand
to surrender. He stated that an at
tempt to hold the position after all the
others had been taken was simply q
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 10
he said:
"We might stop another charge, but
they are certain to capture US in the
end. l advise surrender"
There were a few dissenters, but IS
minutes later the 90 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 the su1ren-
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.
81 gave what orders were given, sir. !"
"Well. the southern confederacy made
miss of it in not making you captain
long ago. Had the other forts held out
as pluckily as you did we should have
had hard fight to get at the stores
While a list of the prisoners was De-
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 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?'
"We 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.
"I fully understand your mot We,
siri'' exclaimed the major when the
cheering had ceased. "You simply
wanted to reap little glory-to stand
we'll in the estimation of your friends.
You have accomplished 1t, but there will
be a hereafter. The minute I am ex-
changed I shall prefer charges and have
you court martialed. If you don't con-
clude to remain among your Yankee
friends. shall"--
''Hear he un talk like FOOL" inter.
rupted Steve, treading army discipline
under foot in his excitement. ''If the
major hadn't surrendered befo' man
| was hit, these Yanks couldn't "a got us
in all day!'
''That's so! That's so!'' shouted a
hundred men. And the enrire lot began
cheering for Steve Brayton.
"And who are you, sir?S demanded
the major, now pale with passion.
Private Steve Brayton, sir, of Cap.
tain Wyle's critter company, and was
LETT behind here because was friend
of Kenton's.''
"Oh, seel Well, I'll see to your
case at the same time"
"Yes, and tell 'em thar's Is dead and
wounded men to show what we uns did
befo' we surrendered. replied Steve.
Rush himi Rush him!" shouted
the crowd, overcome by excitement and
forgetting the respect due an officer.
The major backed away, but in an
instant he was carried off his feet and
rushed to the sentry line, and when he
picked himself up off the grass he was
bruised and battered and his uniform
in very dilapidated condition. Groans