Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1866-06-29

lake. NO snch outrage as YOU threaten
me with is ON record in the history o
nations, Beg him to telegraph, and delay
until he answers" mn"
| 'My orders are pere,nptory, said tht
| officer, ''anG aenit of no delay For youl
own sake, let me advise you to submit
with patience. AS soldier Mr.. Davis
you know. l must execute ordere' t74
''1hese are not orders for a soldier
shouted the prisoner, losing al, contro
OF himself. ''Thev are orders for a iailel
for a hangman, which no soldier wear.
ing sword accepts I tell you the worlc
will ring with this disgrace The war il
over, the South is conquered; Ihave nc
longer any country bnt America, and il
is for the honor of America, as for my own
honor and life, that [ plead against this
degrae alton. Kill me !kill me /! he cri
ed, passionately throwing his arms wide
open and exposing his breast, ''rather than
lnt1ict on me. and on-my people through
me. this lnsult worse than death.''
''Do your duty, blacksmith" said the
officer, walking towards the enbrasure as
If not caring to witness the performance.
at only gives increased pain on all sides
to protract this interview
At these words the blacksmith advan-
ced with the shackles. and seeing that the
prisoner had one foot upon the chair near
his bedside, his right hand resting on the
back OF it, the brawny mechanic made an
attempt to slip one of the shackles over
the ankle SO raised but, as if with the
vehen,ence and strength which frenzy can
impart, even to the weakest invalid, Mr..
Davis Suddenly seized his assailant and
hurled him halfway across the room.
On this Captain Titlow turned, and
seeing that Davis had backed against the
wall for further resistance, began to re-
pointing out in brief, clear
l'guage, that this course was madness.
that orders must be enforced at any cost
why compel me" !" he said, ito add the
further indignity Of personal violence to
the necessity Of your being ironed -
Il am a prisoner Of war;" fiercely re-
torted Davis 81 have been soldier in
he armies OF America, and know how to
die. Only Kill me, and my last breath
shall be Il blessing Oh your head, But
while have life and strength to resist, for
myself and tor my people, this thing shall
not be dome" rr.. t. -, s.r
Iereupon Captain 1itlow called in a
sergeant and tile of soldiers from the next
room, and The sergeant advanced to seize
the prisoner. immediately Mr. Davis
flew on him, seized his musket and at
tempted toswrea,cI, it from his grasp.
OF course such Il scene could have brt
one issue. There was a short, passionate
scuffie. In a moment Davis was flung
upon his bed, and before his four powerful
assalants removed their hands from him,
the blacksmith aud his assistant had done
their work-one securing the rivrt on the
right ankle, while the other turned the
key on the paddock on the left. s.1se G..~-s>
This done, Mr.. Davis lay for a .noncnt
as If in II stnpor. Then slowly raising
himself ana tnrning ro1ud, he dropped
bis shackIed feet to the floor The harsh
clank of the striking chain seems first to
have recalled him 10 his situation, and
dropping his aceinte his hands, lie burst
into passionate food of sobbing. rocking
to and tro, aud muttering at brief inter;
walls ooh, the7shame. the sha,ne..." ss''ses
q 1t may here be stated, though out Of It's
due order-tbat we may get j id in haste
"t an unpleasant subject--tLat Mr.. Davis
some two months slater, when frequent
visits had made bin more free of converse,
gave me curious explanation of the last
feature o.sthis incident 81 = ~.
lie had hee,1 speaking at suicide. and
densnneing 1t as tire worst form OF cav
ardice ard folly. Wife is not like 4 conn
mission that we can resi- ign when dsgnsted
with the service. Taking it by your own.
hand ,isrsa coptessinsof Judgment TO all