Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1837-01-28

e.rv.. . moro lossinR memorial than il canI
derive from thosc imperfect pages-that may
= eo,,alled. bat cannot Be surpassed y tae
.nnals Of friendship. At the period OF his!
entering The regiment, a spirit Of disafiecs'on
had apeeared among the men, originating IN
thu undue severity Of subordinate ofhcer.
"a thi, offence the proud spirit Of Kelly: not
vet accustomed to the restraints Of military
discipline. and his friendship for one OF the
aQarieved party, had involved him:
Decisive measures were deemed necessary
Ito check the progress Of insubor dina''on' and
five Of the offenders were, on their consic'Icu
before a court-martial, sentenced to euner
|de.,h- The sentence was, however, mitiga-
ted. two only Of the number being eventuaAy
doomed 70 suffer, and the condemned party
having to cast lots for the decision. Nelly
drew 4 prize. and with his two equally forum
ate companions was Immediately set at hber-
jtv. His friend, however, was less success
f;,l: and in seeing him remanded to his cell,
our hero felt that he could gladly resign the
freedom he had gained. to alleviate the con-
I6nement, and share the fate OF has COM
rade.
~ will save himv' he calculated, as he re-
c.;r.d 10 his quarters: II will save him for
lhis wife and his poor babes. II he deserves
Ihis sentence am equally guilty, and am, be-
sides. unincumbered; my death will not throw
Il widow and helpless orphans on the world"
AS Macdonald, (such was the name OF
| Kelly's unfortunate friend) was to suffer on
1.-The following morning; there was no time to
ibe lost; he solicited. and obtained permission
to visit him in his cell at an early hour on the
following morning. He found the unhappy
man in the arms Of his distracted wife; while
his two infant children were playing on the
Ia r. A. :n hov srvCr nsNpA oft the
sufferinQs Of their wretched parents.
"Macdonald,'' said Kelly, when his friend
observed him, and wornly grasped his hand,
~vou are husband and a father-you have a
wife. who looks to you as the main-stay OF
Ilife-you have children, whose only depen-
ldence is on the arm Of their father; ], on the
lcontrarv. am unconnected, and have no one
Ito regret me. Let me undergo the sentence.
from which the favour Of the lots has alone
exempted me. Nay, Mac" continued he, as
his friend shrunk with horror from the pro-
posal, sscan you think Of your poor wife and
helpless boys turned adrift upon the world
1t must not be! l am Of your own height and
figure, and can easily pass for you, by con-
lcealing my face"
! The wife Of the condemned man joined in
the entreaty with all mothers eloquence;
even the smiles Of his innocent babes seemed
forcibly to appeal to hum not to desert them,
and the heart Of the father was subdued. At
that moment a guard Of six grenadiers en-
tered, and demanded the prisoner. Kelly
threw off his jacket, and surrendering him
self to the unsuspecting escort, was led forth
with his fellow-sufersr, while Macdonald re-
: NAMED behind in almost torpid insensibili,y.
| The whole Of the troops in garrison were
under arms, and, as the prisoner appeared,
the long roll of the muffled drum sounded in
unison with the melancholy scene. The ap-
pearance Of the sufferers was in the highest
degree firm and becoming; the taller Of them
alone was observed to droop his head on his
| bosom. in such q manner % effectualy to
conceal his features.
| ~Make ready!" and the muskets of the men
appointed to the work Of death clicked audi
bly, IN the ears Of those assembled: "Pres-
ent!- and the hearts Of many, who had dared
|unfl,nchin9ly the per,ls of the field, sickened
- they gased. Al that moment stir was
perceived among the ranks, and Macdonald,
their arms, declaring himself to be the person
doomed to suffer.
He had awoke from his stupor to a full
conviction Of the danger of his too generous
friend, and breaking from his wife's arms, had
lhastened to snatch him from the fate that so
imm;nently threatened hum.
The commanding officer advanced, and de-
manded an explanation, which Macdonald
gave with greatful eloquence that melted
every heart: At the same time tearing off the
bandaee from the eyes of his friend, he dis
covered the noble features of Michael Kelly
|clouded with disappointment. In tone Of
passionate sincerity Kelly reproached him
with unreasonable interference, and turning
from the encomiums Of the officer, his eye
encountered the approving glance Of Colo
mel T..
my brave felDow!' CALCULATED the veneer
able commandant, a. he grasped the soldiers
hand. 1t was too much for the s3proud yet
meek" spirit Of poor Kelly; his colour came
and went alternately, and flood Of tears d
lone saved him from a most unsoldier-like