Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1864-03-29
For THE SPECTATOR.
A Sketch From Life.

A Sketch From Life.
SIN deep vale, shut out by Alpine hills from
{ the rude world" there once lived an humble
; ldweller of the forest who earned his hrasd hv
the sweat. of his brow and partook of the boun-
! ties of mnnifcent nature beneath his own vine
and tig tree, where there was none to molest or
make him afraid" With conscience void of
offence" he lived at peace with his shaker and all
mankind. But, alas grimsyisaged war sent
his agent into this Eden to bring forth this sim.
pie sehild of nature" to do battle for his conn.
TRY. Without moments warning he was hur-
ried away from bis forest home and the dear
little ones who were wont to climb upon his
knee and make glad his heart with their cease
less caroling Unaccustomed to war, and know
ing nothing OF the priyations to be endured he
went forth without blankets or clothing, never
thinking that he would have to sleep upon the
cold wet ground with nothing to protect his
lshivering body from the wintry blast After a
few months suffering in the service of his coun-
try, he received the sad intelligence of the ill.,
Ness of his wife. When he thought of that low
cd one at home-the idol of his heart--lying
PROSTATE upon her couch, the victim of insid-
lious disease, and of those dear little ones who
could BOT minister to her wants and who were
likely to suffer from hunger, he lost sight of his
duty to his country, and in one wild paroxysm
OF anxiety, threw down his musket, plunged into
the dark wilds of the forest without thought Of
duty or danger. Onward he pressed day and
night all needless of WEAKNESS and hunger, un-
til he found himself by the PROSTATE form of his
bosom companion ministeriDg to her every
want. After providing for his family, as best he
could, he was about returning to his command,
when the hand Of disease lsid him low. When
he had partially recovered, he was again hur-
ried off under guard to his regiment, where he
was ordered to the guard>house and after suf-
fering as never man suffered for some three or
four months, he was arraigned before that hon
orable Cd body--the court-martial, when be was
sentenced to be shot to death aoih aaasketry.
Come with me poor, wayworn soldier, with
your tattered garments-you who have stood
by my side when the leaden hail fell thick and
fast let me take stroll in the direction of yon-
der splendid mansion. See, the candles are
lighted in the parlor and hall. Listen, there is
8 sound of music and reyelry there. Let Us go
to the gate, Lazarus-like, that we may learn
Of the pomp of this world The bac-
chanalian song is struck up, the dance begins,
and all moves on as ssmerry as a marriage BELL"
Who is this man that can revel in luxury and
riotous living, while every one else is mourning
n sack and ashes on account of the great
calamity which is now resting upon and deVour-
ing us2 From whence all this luxury and grand
sur? Go ask the poor widow and orphan chil-
dren of him who poured out his hearts blood
n defence of his country. They will tell you
who it was, in the beginning of this war, that
made loud professions of patriotism and persua~
led their husbands and fathers to go forth and
10 battle for their country while he remained
1t home and wrung the last morsel of bread
rom them that he might "dress in purple and
fine linen, and fare sumptuonsy every day.
With him swindling is rot only one of the pre-
requisites of trade, but virtue. With smile
upon his face, such as we might well imagine
Satan wore when he approached our first pa
rents, he meets the soldier and asks, {" When ars
y0u going back again ?''
Let Us bring these two characters face to face
that we may compare them fora moment. The
one served his country until the sickness of his
family requires his presence, when he left in Or
der to rescue them from starvstion for which he
was tied to, a stake and shot to death.
The other never did days service, but on
the other hand has done more to break down
aud destroy our country than the avowed enemy,
and yet strange as 1t may seem, he is permitted
to go unmolested, unrebnked.
Fellow-soldiers, are you going to permit this
man to go unscathed Are goW going to stand
like dumb brutes and see your fellow-soldiers
shot to death, while your worst enemy-the
LGtor--roams up and down the country at
large? May my tongue cleave to the roof of
my mouth, and my right arm forget her cum
ming if | fail to heap upon him my maledctionsl
Come forth, you miserable recreant you loatheS
some vulture who has been feeding upon the
yitals of our country; take your place in the
criminal box with this poor soldier and let the
world judge between you and him.
He left his post to rescue his family from STAR
vation. You avoided your country's call that
you might remain at home and flch the bread
from his poor starving children. He persuaded
no one to leave his post of duty. You have
caused hundreds to desert, by'hoarding up the
necessaries of life, SO that their wives and fans
lilies could not get them. He caused no dissat
isfaction in the ranks. You have caused more
croaking, more rebellious feeling than all other
causes put together. He was guilty only OF de-
sertion, you of high treason.
I do not ask those high in Office, who have
screened this man from the beginning Of the
war and who had the other shot, to render a
verdict in the case. But | ask those who shoul-
dered the musket and marched to the "feld of
carnage and bloodshed,n who have withstood
the leaden hail of the enemy without hinching,
whom they consider deserving of death in this
case.
This man, with patriotic sentiments upon his
tongue, and treason written in blazing charac-
ters upon his penurious soul, may go unscatched
through this world; but | would just remind
him that the Supreme Judge of high Heaven,
He who passed sentence upon q certain rich
man many years ago, shall be has Judge. 9
JUSTICE,
On 18th Va Infantry