American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-05-19
THE LIEUTENANT'S TALE.
R THE CONDEMNED SOLDIERS LAST HOUR,
-''Take him hence,
The world shall not save him.


-''Take him hence
The world shall not him"
IN the spring of the year 1873, was sta
toned with nay company in Florida, where we
daily expected an attack from body of In
dians, who had complely surrounded us, though
keeping at very respectful distance. Our dan
gerous position rendered it imperative that the
out-posts should be secured by an unusually
strong guard And at one point, more expos
ed than the rest, picked men were Stationed of
tried fidelity and irmness, upon whom the safe
ty Of the camp mainly depended.
1t was past twelve at night, and the stars,
which few hours before had decked the sky
in glowing splendor, were now obscured by
fitting clouds, that forctold a storm. Not be-
ing able to sleep, rose from my bed, threw
my cloak around me and sailed out The gar
rison was hushed in utter slence--a silence
whose intensity was painful, and well wot
that within that fort were many eyes, which in
'ain courted the favor of the sleepy god.
The fort itself was crazy affair, very much
lilapidated, and has since gone to decay; and
1t the period of the commencement of my
tory could have afforded us but slight pro-
ection against the vigorous onset Of deter
mined foe
Soon after emerging from my quarters, en-
3ountered the major, who being somewhat
lnXious about our situation, and withal wake
i, had come out, like myself for a nocturnal
ambe We had been sauntering about for
some little time, occasionally conversing in a
low under-tone, and were approaching defec-
i've place in the pickets, near the southwest
lngle, when a yell, such as | never heard be-
fore, and never wish to hear again, broke upon
he stiffness of the night, not a hundred feet
rom our position, with most terrifying effect.
The major exclaimed, "some poor fellow has
een killed, and that is the shout of victory"
nd both of us ran quickly to the pickets, in the
Erection from which the yell proceeded, where
re knew sentinel had been posted. Here we
'opnd poor Edwards crouching in a sitting po-
ition, his eyes closed, not in death, but in
eep, and about four inches above his head was
tomahawk deeply buried in picket.
'Would it had not missed its mark, )" mutter-
| d the ma ior, taking the musket softly from the
eepers hand, and lying it aside; Lieutenant,
i al the officer Of the guard"
He came, and Edwards was reused from his
( umbers to find himself prisoner-not, as he
ist imagined, in the hands of the Indians, but
Z fhs own comrades. He asked no questions,
Dr he knew full we'll that the "Articles of
Var' awarded the punishment of DEATH to a
ontnel found asleep upon his post
This tale is founded upon little sketch originally
um the pen of Charles II. Saunders, Esq.
/ | will not attempt to portray the agony of
| lind which he suffered; his trial came on the
II ext day, and he was brought forward.
| Where was the martial air which had always
Y .'tnguished him among his comrades! instead
beng the hearty robust soldier that he was a
w, hours before, you would have judged that
, te was lust risen from a sick bed.
/ His doom was sealed; and he heard his
/ ntence, that he should die the next morning
| sunrise, without evincng the slightest agita-
\ ln; and when the order by the court, "remove
prisoner" struck his ear, he resumed his
ace between his guards, and strobe haughti-
/ away. About | O'Clock, P. NJ, the officer
| the guard informed me that Edwards had
pressed desire to see me before his execu-
\ stion. | Immediately repaired to the old
II LIGHTHOUSE, and In a moment was with this
Il risoner.
II "Well, Edwards, ] am grieyed to my inmost
h III TO see you here, condemned to die, and
h I so young. 1t is hard, very hard; but am
\ nstraned to confess the justice of your SEN
h Ice.'
| Il know it am justly condemned, and am
/ ling to expiate my crime with my life-but
N . that pass. have sent for you, in the hope
/ at you will grant me favor
| Name it Edwards, for will cheerfully and
'tlully execute any reasonable commission
h may entrust to my CARE was nv reply.
Ter expressing his gratitude for my compll.
he began his story nearly after the follow
III 4 maancr--