Holly Springs gazette., 1845-08-16
The Soldiers Last Hour.
"--Take him hence,
III, rr-..r-ll :. Ill ~ s-a - k I'm ~


The world shall not save him"
In the spring ofLhe year lo3-, | was
stationed with my company IN Florida,
where we daily expected an attack from
body of Indians who had completely sur
rounded US, though keeping at respectful
distance. Our dangerous position render
ed It necessary that the Outposts should DE
we'll secured by an unusually strong guard.
Aud at one point more exposed than the
rest, picked men were stationed, OF tried n
deity and frmncss, upon whom the safety
of the camp mainly depended.
1t was IL at night, and the stars, which
few hours before had decked the sky In
glowing splendor, were now obscured by
fitting clouds that foretold storm No:
being able to sleep, | rose from my bed,
threw nv cloak around me and sailed out
The garrison was hushed in utter silence
a silence whose intensity was painful, and
we'll wot that within that fort were many
sleepy eyes, which in vain courted the ta'
vor Of the sleepy god.
The fort itself was a crazy affair, very
much dilapidat.d and has since gone to de-
cay; and at the period of the commence
ment OF my story, could have afforded US
but sight protection against the vigorous
onse. of determined foe.
Soon after emerging from my quarters,
| encountered the major who being some
" hat anxious about our situation, and with
al wakeful, had come out, like myself,
for nocturnal ramble. We had been saun-
tering about for some time, occasionally
conversing in a low under tone, and were
approaching a defective place In the pick
cts. near the south west angle, when yell,
such as | never heard before, and never
wish 10 hear again, broke upon the stIi, ness
of night, not hundred feet from our posi-
tion, with most terrifying effect The ma
Tor exclaimed, some poor fellow has oeen
killed, and that is the shout of victory, and
both of US ran quickly to the pickets, IN the
direction of which the yell proceeded
where we knew a sentinel had been posted
Here we found poor Edwards crouching IL
sitting position. his eyes closed not IN
death. but in sleep, and about four inche;
above his head was tomahawk deeply
buried In picket.
Would that it had missed its mark, NUT
tered the major, taxing the musket SONY
from the sleeper's hand, and laying IL Has'ae
r lieutenant. call the officer of the guard.
He came. and Edwards was arouse'
| from hi. slumber to find himself prisone
NOT as he first imagined, IN the hands 0
the Indians, but of his own comrades. n
asked no questions. for he knew full wei
| that the "A rticles of War awarded the pun
ishmcnt Cf death to sentinel found asiee
on his post.
Where was the martial air which ma
ALWAYS disling guished him among MS com
rade>9 Instead of being the hearty Ioou'
soldier that he was few hours oeioIe yo
,youId have Judged that he was risen iIom
sick bed. /
His doom was sealed; and ne heard n
sentence that he should die the next moI'
ino at sunrise. without evinclng the slish
esi a citation and when the order oi ~
court, remove the prisoner, struck nis Cd
he resumed his place between MS guaiu
and strobe haughlily away. About .
clock. p. M. the officer OF the guaro y
formed me that Edwards had expressed
desire to see me before his execution l ~
mediately repaired to the old block aou'
and in a moment was with the prisone
Well, Edwards. l am grieved 70 my u
most soul to see you here. conoenineu
die. and vet so young. It's hard' ou' !
constrained to confess the justice OF yo'
Sequence. aanod a,
fknow il; am justly condemneu' =, =
am willing 20 expiate my crime WIN
life-but let that pass naso a
you in the hope that you VIII gram "''
favor. -f,I
Name il, Edwards. for I will cneeriu'