The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1915-09-10

lifum <~<@/ NJ y. u. Dtnton, Wuu ~
sides n Poar. Cass county. Texas.
Mr.. Denton was kind enough TO say
that he has long been a reader OF the
Record. and that the Johnny Reb
sketches have afforded him much
pleasure. Mr.. Denton Is native Of
Georgia. and when the clouds began
to lower upon our beloved Southland.
like all true sons OF the south. he was
ready and willing TO 20 forth to bat
tie In defense Of the principles which
were and are 10 dear to every true
southerner. when his native state
had cast her lot with her sister states
OF the South and the call to arms
came. young Denton 20 years OF age.
enlisted at Morganton, Ca. April I'll,
1s61, In Company u. Second Geargla
Infantry. old Bob Tombs brigade.
This cammand proceeded at once to
Virginia. reaching there IN time 20
take part In the opening battle OF
the war. his command forming part
OF Hoods division after that gallant
gentleman had been promoted 20 the
rank OF maicr general. Mr. Denton
was with his command In all the bat
ties in Virginia In which Hoods divi-
sion took part. and when Longstreets
corps was ordered TO Tennessee to re-
inforce Bragg, the command TO which
Mr.. Denton belonged was a part OF
that force, and took part In several
Of the battles OF Tennessee, including
that Of Chicamauga. The command
spent the following winter In Ten
nessee, but returned TO Virginia In
time to participate In the battle Of
the wilderness Mr.. Denton's COM
mand also took part In what was
known as the Maryland campaign. as
well as the Pennsylvania campaign,
which eliminated In the battle OF
Gettysburg. and during all these stir
ring times and hard desperate fight
ing when the constantly thinning
ranks OF the Confederate army were
performing the prodIgles OF yalor. en-
during privatlons and hardships
never before endured by any army,
aud putting up such fight as no
other army has ever put up, especial
ly when II Is considered that the
Confederate army had sprung into
existence like a mushroom In a night;
that 30 percent OF the men In the
ranks were wholly without military
training. and had hitherto been en-
gagged In peaceful pursuits. poorly
armed and equipped. young Denton
wan In his place In the ranks depcrt-
ing himself az became a true son OF
the brightest land that the sun shines
on, and doing Just as did thousands
Of his comrades without ever stop
ping to think that they were doing
anything out OF the ordinary, and
never realizing that their deeds OF
valor and heroIsm would 70 sound
ing down the ages In song and story
as long AZ the people Of the world
continue to admire true courage and
devotion to duty
MIR. Denton continued to do his
duty to the South as long as there
was a cause to fight for and when the
remnant OF Lees battered legion
stacked arms at AppomattoI on that
fatal April morning. he was still In
his place In the ranks, Returning to
his Georgia home, and seeing the
ruin and desolatlcn which Sherman
and hls bummers had visited upon
that fair land In utter disregard OF
all laws OF civilized warfare. and the
young man having heard Of bright
land further toward the setting sun,
which needed men Of brain and
Drawn to develop It's natural, wonder
full resources. he came to Texas In
1868. In 1879 he went to the Chlcka-
saw nation. ncw a part Of Oklahoma,
where he married and a few years
later he came to TEXAS. lie is now
living In Kent county engaged In the
cattle business. and says he Is able
to ride horseback attending to his
cattle every day. He has seven grown
children. six OF whom are married.
but his wife died about two years
ago.
Austin. Aug. 2. 1915.
Fort Worth Record. Aug. &c. 1915