Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-09-12
An Incident In the South.
A TENN nssEE SOLDIER ciior fY THE
IEBELS.

A TENNESSEE SOLDIER ciior aY THE
REBELS.
The New Orleans DeL'n has the follow
ing narrative of tie shooting OF Tennes-
see soldier in the rebel army in Mississip-
pit
A lady of the first standing in New Or
lee,,s having obtained passport to visit the
camp Of the rebel army where her two sons
were serving, was entertained at headquart-
ers, and found that General Van Dorm and
his staff officers Jared sumprously, living on
! the very fat of the land But the common
soldiers had only bread and molasses tor
I their fare.
It so happened that while this lady was
/ with the Contederates the time for which a
certain Tennessee regiment had enlisted ex-
pired, and the soldiers, anxious to see their
wives and little ones once more, began to
make preparations to start home.
The General, in making his daily rounds.
and seeing his men busily engaged in max
ing preparations for their intended depart
ure, inquired what il meant and on being
made acquainted with thrir determination,
he Immediately gave orders that not single
man of them should leave his encampment.
The whole brigade or division OF the army
was at once ordered under arms; cannon
and musketry were brought TO bear on this
devoted regiment, and they were told by
the General, that unless they took up their
arms, which they had thrown down, within
three minutes they should be fired on.-
With death thus staring them in the face,
! they obeyed the order to take up their arms,
all but eight. 1t was declared that these
eight should be court-martialed and shot.
Before the time came that the military
court was to be held, seven If the eight fol-
l lowed the example of their comrades, and
agreed to resume their arms. One soldier
alone remained firm in his purpose; one
/, soldier alone was willing to brave death
0 rather than yield to the despotic demands
of tyrant.
! He pleaded his own cause with all tht
, fervor of which soldier is capable. Sait
he to his General i have served out thu
n time for which enlisted faithfully hav,
I, been in every battles / have been at al
e times at the post of duty assigned me, il
rain and sunshine, in summer and winter
Z / have served and / am willing to serve m
At country. But, General, have wife an
Is four small children at home, who depend o.
- : me alone for support and protection, an
!, who have no one besides me to look to thei
e interests. Allow me thirty days, the la'
ie allows furlough of sixty days, but allo,
me half that time to visit my family, whot
= = have not seen for year, and make som
le necessary arrangements for their welfare
II. and promise to return within that tim
y and take my former position in my reg
:, - ment. / make but just and reasonabl
be- request. 1t is essential to the welfare
al, my family that you grant it. cannot eI
c- ter the service again till hfve visited m
~ family He was sentenced to be shot
!, Tie decree was pronounced on Saturda
en and was to have been executed the neI
tn day--the Sabbath suitable day for SUE
ad deed. The soldier and hero, for he WI
hero, and by far the bravest man in h
81 regiment, asked for little longer time
ri make the preparation necessary, in order
i'd enter into the presence of his God ar
e the time was graciously extended one da
SO that the sentence was executed on Mo-
ed day, instead of the Sabbath.
he When the fatal hour arrived, followiH
We his coffin which was in full view, he WI
!, marched 10 the place of execution, and a
an rived there, the General pointed him to Il
ny new-m made grave and commanded him
op kneel down upon the margin of that gray
!, u The soldier and maatyr simply replied th
IA he had never kneeled to any but his Ma
Do er, and that he could not consent TO kne
now to man. As he said this the order W,
au, given to Ere, and In the act of making Il
sign of the cross on his breast the mart,
he and soldier was in eternity. But there we
his many; unaccustomed TO weep, who she
ne bitter tears ON witnessing this tragedy.