Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-11-23


10 say among themselves "It is a pity that |
these men should be shot by mistake"
II was not long before the sergeant and his |
guide arrived The former handed the lieu. |
tenant note, which he hastily tore open aud |
read Waste no time in parley. Itis indif. |
ferent which village is punished; an example |
must be made. Do your duty aud return In |
stantlY." So ran the pitiless answer.
"Chooss your men!" said the lieutenant |
rising to his feet, and grinding his teeth 10 keep
down bic faltering hoari. But now the lamen- |
tations broke out affesh. The women cune |
around the men who were dear to them, and |
many of the latter, overcome by the general |
distress, uttered loud cries aud prayers for |
mercy. The young man knelt down in front Of |
them, saying to the officer. ~ do not kneel 10 |
you; but will pray to God that he viii remove
the sin Of slaughter from your soulp
As the officer met his earnest eyes, full Of |
sublime calmness aud courage, his own sudden |
ly filled with tears He turned 10 his menwhO |
stood drawn up in line before him, but no word |
was spoken Their hands were 10 their proper
places according to drill regulations; and there
were drops on many cheeks which they could
not wipe away. There was a silent question
IN the officers eye-s silent answer in theirs.
The former turned hnrriedly, beckoned the
young mau to him, and whispered, in an agi-
tated voice:
my friend, will save you by stratagem.--
Choose ten of your most courageous men, place
them in line before me and / will order my
soldiers to shoot them through the head. Al
the instant give tho orter TO FIRE, they must
fall flat ON the ground; my soldiers will aim
high, and no one will be injured as soon as
the volley is fired will give the order to march;
but no one must stir from his place until we
are Oat Of sight" sr.rr
These words were instantly translated to the
people, but so great was their panic, that no
one offered to move. The pastors son then
took his place, alone, in the vacant space before
the line Of soldiers al offer myself" said he,
'as one trusting in God that we shall all be
saved and call upon those of you who have
the hearts Of men in your bodies to stand
beside me-" Young Conard, sturdy farmer,
and but newly bridegroom, Joined him-casss
ing as be did so single encouraging look upon
his future wife, who turned deadly plle but
spake not word. One by one, as men who
have resolved TO face death-for the most
Of them had but trembling half confidence in
their escape--eight others walked out and took
their places in line The women shuddered,
and hid their eyes; the men looked steadily on
in the fascination Of terror; and the little chill
dren in awed but ignorant curiosity. The
place was Us silent as il devoid of life.
.AgdlH lnb HcuLtHuut tuTNtNtu nlb nleN.--
"Take aim" he commanded, He continued
'sim at their heads, that your. work may be
well dOnc" But though his voice was clear
and strong, and tho tenor OF his words not to be
mistaken, a clairvoyant flash Of hidden mean!
ing ran down the line, and the men under
stood him. Then came tho last commando
"Fire!n--but in the second which intervcned
between the word and the ringing volley the
ten men were already falling. The crack Of
muskets and sound Of their bodies were stimuli
taneous. Without psusing an instant the lieu.
tenant cried: Fright about WHEEL" Forward"
and the measured tramp CT the soldiers rang
down the narrow village street
The women uncovered their eyes and gazed
There lay the ten men, motiOnIess and sp.
parently liieless. With wild cries they gathered
| around them; but ere their cxclsmatiOns Of
despair had turned into those Of joy, the last
of the soldiers had disappeared in the wood
Then followed weeping embraces, as all arose
from the gTound-laughter and sobs Of hys-
terical Joy The pastors sor, uncoverng his
head knelt down, while all reverently followed
his example, and uttered an eloquent prayer of
thanksgiving for their mercful deliveranoe,
Whit this young man had done was not
suffered TO 20 unrewardod. A blessing rested
upon his labors and his life. In the course Of
time he became clergyman, filling for while
his fathers place for the people he had saved,
out was sIier"Arus lSu 70 wleer ana more
AMBITIOUS sphere. ne was eslled u 70 LeigH'g,
received 'he uegree OIL Dootor oil plVlnhy' and
nnaiy became khown 1nIOuRnout germany as
the IounlSr OF tne uv%ap Agoy TeTsn lGas-
M,us ADSiPn un'on'l wh,on l. nag ior i's 9D
ece 1he elsselnlha1ion oi pI1tes.hh' principles
W Mesn' . % Noiun.Ily 0onHi1u'lohS. w IN some
Isspses ieSsuiolps uo 1oi"S M niSslohs oi
our country. MANY chutenes' pulN oy this
assoois'sol, arc ho" Aoa''eieu throughout the
Onl.eu osa'es'
The inhabitants Of Waldorf mover forgot
their pastor, nor he them. lie came back from
time to time to spend few days in the quiet
little village Of bis youth, ana where the most
eVsniinl eiisls OF his lie was passed
VI Sere ss, lE.ng ~ 'ns,, o'u MONIES
- enu sns P1oPio nesnous"' 'sni 'ua' tno se',ll' y,
1 oen'ei'.a' ~ suen ah event ue'
%h'' SeLsea sPeolIi esiepla.ion, .s'D " o. o.
e,pHg yoiheIy 'ns pastor s1n'J was Ihylleu y
pc win inem' he ueLhe Wopiu nave
come Houn t'le ehos OF .ne eaI,n-snu amer
A9leihn Isnglous service y Aus ehurenI PIocool,
ca 20 .lle very 1Po' on Whieh ne hau $1,000 ana
isceu tne EIeneh lnusSssS' anu mere Ieis'e9 70
inc en'ieien ana RfanuehhuIeh oi Iuose ne mao
SeNeu' eno hAlIa'ise wnlen nave hsIe s gwen IN
less moving ana eloquent WofaS' tho'e VINO
we'e p'eseh' ueAo,pou .hS SoSho o. suguisry
lmpress'Ee ana sH,eslhg lns ,llee Gu men
aat near h'Iil - 9s sPoAsi shI .l'9 tho,loh, y
that hour OF triai were so vlvldly reprod aesd ~
eisI l'lIs ens u & sne o,oSs e"ey sa W.