The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-09-10

4 TENNESSEE SOLDIER sHoFDy
The New Orleans Della hal 1855
ing narrative Of the shooting o. .s..
nessee soldier in The rebel army in Mis-
sissipp
"A lady Of the first standing in New
Orleans having obtSined passport "a
visit the camp of the rebel army, where
her two sons were serving, was enter
tanned at headquarters, and found that
General Van Dorm and his staff officers
Jared sumptuously, living ON the very
'fat of the land But the common sol
diers had only bread and molasses for
their fare.
ait so happened that while this lady
was with the Confedorates, the time for
which certain Tennessee regiment had
enlisted expired, and the soldiers, anx-
ious TO see their wives and little ones
once more, began to make preparationsto
start home.
'The General, in making his daily
rounds, and seeing the men of this regi.
lnent busily engaged in making prepare
tions for their intended departure, in
CURED what il meant and on being
made acquainted with their determine
ton, he immediately gave orders thatnot
a single man of them should leave his
encampment The whole brigade or di-
vision of the army was at once ordered q
under arms cannon and muskelry were
| brought TO bear on this devoted regi-
inent, 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 10 take up their
arms, all but eight, TWAS decreed that
these eight men should be court mar
| tailed and shot.
"Belore the time came that the militia.
~ court was to be held, seven out Of the
eight followed the example Of their COM
rades, and agreed TO resume their arms
One soldier alone remained FIRM 10 bis
| purpose; one Boldier alone Was willing
to brave death rather than yield to The
despOtic demands Of tyrant.
Gle pleaded his own cause with all the
feryor Of which a soldier IL capable
Said he to his General: q have served
out the time for which / enlisted faith.
fully; / have been in every battle; have
been at all times at the post Of duty as
signed me, in rain and sunshine, in sum
mer and winter. | have served and am
willing 10 serve my country. But, Gen
eral, have wife and four small chill
dren At home, who depend on me alone
for support and protection, and who have
no one beside me 10 look 10 their inter-
ssts. Allow mo thirty days, the laws al
lows a fnrlough of sixty days, but all0w.
me but half that time TO visit my FAM
ly, whom ! have not eeen for year, end
make some necessary arrangemcnw for
their welfare, and promise TO return
within that time and 10 take my former
position in my regiment. | mabe but a
Just and reasonable request. y Is essen
tiAl to the welfare Of my family that you
grantit. cannot enter the service again
till l have visited my family lie was
sentenced 10 be shot The decree was
pronounced on Saturday, and was TO have
been executed ON the npxt day-the Sab
bath--a suitable day fol such a deed
The soldier and herr, for he was a hero,
and by far the bFageBt man In bis regi-
ment, asked for little longer time 20
make the preparation necessary, in ord@
TO enter into The presence Of his God, and
the time was graciously extended one
day 30 that the sentence was executed
on Monday instead of the sabbath.
"WheE the fatal hour arrived, follow
ing bis coffin which was in full view, he
was Diarched TO the place of execution,
aud arrived there, the General pointed
hiTl to the neW-made grave and com
n.anded ham 10 kncel down upon the mar
gin Of that grave, The soldier and mar
Tyr simply reTlied that he had never
kneelcd 70 any but his Maker, and that
he could not consent 70 lneel now 10 a
man. As ho said this the order was Civ
en- 10 fire, and in the act Of making the
sign OF the cross on bis breast the mar
tyr and soldier was in eternity. But
there were many, unacoustomed 10 weep,
who shed bitter tears on Witnessing this
tragedy"
I