Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1862-06-25

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/ they are unwilling TO fight, and are heart
ily dissusted with the manner in which
we always bestow our welcome As re
marked In Il previous letter the war here
has assumed rely stragetical charac-
ter, both of the commanding generals be-
| ing engaged in studying how each shall
most eifectually checkmate the other =
Halleck, on his part is afraid to make q
single move without protecting himself
from every conceivable contingency of
failure, and Beauregard, with his watch
fuI eye, scans closely every opportunity
which promises success to him. Could
one be acquainted with the operations Of
these two master minds, what a study
would it be to the curious philosopher
and how the world would learn to appre-
ciate The difficulties which cluster around
tie designs of great leaders in contest
of this nature
Reports from the Tennessee river state
that 1t is now very low, and that trans
ports are compelled to travel up and down
without the protecting egis of gunboat.
hat fine opportunity Tor sharp shoot
erS A well organized band Of partisans
might make the Tennessee impossible, cut
off ankee supplies, and prove of inesti-
inable advantage to our cause. Why will
some one not take the initiative?
Another soldier was yesterday shot for
desertion During the previous night he
had run by our pichets, but evidently lost
his way, Tor, on approaching the lines
again, the sentinel cried Halt p "0h
] IN all right you need not stop me, was
the response . IA us good federal as
you are
What are you doing here p said the
sentinel
need not mention the purport of the
revelation.
Wen, 1 reckon you have got into the
wrong box. I'm u Confederate picket,
and you are my prisoner.
The officer Of the guard was accordingly
summoned, and the man was given into
! custody. Yesterday he was taken before
Gen. jackson and examined. He then
frankly confessed that his heart was not
in the cause; that he was an Engiisllman
by birth, and had deserted with the in
tention Of giving intelligence of our move
ments to the enemy. Evidence SO clear
and conclusive dispensed with the formal
tiles of a court martial, and the man was
taken out and shot.
On the day previous "wednesday |
saw another suffer the same fate-a spy
named Coon Farris, from Paris or Padu
cah, Tenn. \ more stoical death | never
witnessed As he rode along upon rude
cart, seated upon a box which was to DC
his future bed, he acted as indiferently as
if he were a spectator, and not the object
of the terrible preparations When the
vehicle stopped, he jumped lightly out,
and waited for the removal Of the coffin.
This being done, he walked carelessly to
a tree twenty feet distant, the coffin was
placed under it, his handouts were I'M
locked, and Tor q moment he engaged In
conversation with the officer attending
him. Not a sign of trepidation was yisi-
BILE The keen black eye was as bold and
unwayering as ever, and neither cheek
blanched our muscle quivered His in
terview terminated, the last words of
which, as was informed, were: J. die
an honest and an innocent man !" He
took his seat upon the coffin, his coat was
buttoned across his breasy, arms pinioned
fr IN behind, eyes bandaged, and Of his
own accord he leaned back against the
tree Such was the imperturable selfpo-
session of the man, however, that even
then, shut out from the world for the last
time, with only Il moment bridging the
interval between time and eternity, he
took the pains to make himself comforta-
bic by moving his head from side to side
on the tree, that it might rest easily upon
the rough edges of the bark. The guard
was then ordered forward three PAGES, so
that but tn steps separated them from
the culprit The officer took his place at
| their right, and in low tone gave the
order, d" take aim "a few seconds pause
:. fire T 4 slush Of brains, sudden
s.art, dropping Of the head to one side,
a falling Of the jaw, and all was over
The spy had paid the forfeit of his life
for his crime, and the majesty OF military
| law was indicated