The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1839-04-06

The fret drummer began, and taking
hree steps forward, applied the lash to the
soldiers back" one.'
Again he struck" two"
Again, and again, until twenty-five were
called by the sergeant. Then came the Sec
ond drummer, and performed his twenty
five. Then came the third, who was
stronger and more heavy striker than his
coadjntors in office, this drummer brought
the blood out upon the right shoulder blade,
which perceiVing, he struck lower on the
back; but the surgeon ordered him 10 strike
again upon the bleeding part. / thought
this was cruel; bot learnt after, from the sur
geOn hImself, that il gave much less pain
to continue the blows as directed, than 10
strike upon the untouched skin.
The poor fellow bore without werd his
fagellation holding hi: head down upon his
breast, both his arms being extended, and
tied at the wrists above his head. At the
first ten or twelve blows he never moved
a muscle; but tthe twenty-hlth ne clenched
his teeth and cringed little from the lash
During the second twenty-five, the part
upon which the cord fell became blue, and
appeared thickencd, for the whole space of
the shoulderblade and centre of the back,
and before the fiftelh blow was struck, we
could hear a smothered groan from the
poor sufferer, evidently caused by his efforts
TO stif1e the natural exclamations of acute
pain. The third striker as said brought
the blood; it oozed from the SWOLLEN skin
and moistened the cords, which opened its
way from the veins. The colonel directed
look at the drummer, which augured no
thing advantageous 10 his interests; and on
the 6(th'of his twenty-five, cried out to him,
shalt sirl you know as much about using
the 'caf as you do of your sticks" Then
addressing the adjutant, he said, "send that
fellow away to drill; tell the drum-major TO
$ give him two hours additional practice with
the sticks every day for week in order TO
bring his hand into--a--proper movement"
Tho drummer SUNK away at the order of
the adjutant, and one of the others took up
the cat The colonel now looked at the
surgeon, and could perceive slight nod
pass in recognition of something previously
arranged between them. This was evi-
dently the case, for the latter instantly went
over to the punished man, and having ask
ed him question or two, proceeded for
mally to the colonel, and stated something
in low voice, upon which the drummers
were ordered 10 take the man down. This
was accordingly done; and when about TO
be removed 10 the regiment hospital, the
colonel addressed him thus: "Your pun
ishment, sir, is at end, you may thank the
surgeons opinion for being taken down so
soon." every one knew this was only a
pretext.) have only to observe 10 you,
that as you have always previous 10 this
fault been good man. l would recon-
mend you 10 conduct yourself well for the
future, and promise TO hold your promo
ton open to you as before"
The poor fellow replied that he would
do so, and then burst into tears, which he
'strove in vain TO hide.
Wonder not the hard cheek Of soldier
was thus moistened by tear; the heart was
within his bosom, and these tears came
from it. The lash could not force one from
his burning eyelid but the word of kind
ness, the breath of tender feeling from his
respected colonel, dissolved the stern SOL
der TO the grateful and contrite penitent"
nznuHE