The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-11-02

(fioors seldom are in these localities
and the white uniforms of the men
being wet, it was no wonder that the
dirt adhered to them with tenacity
that defied all exertions to get it oil,
when the wearers were reused by the
sergeant to prepare for standing on
guard once more. The more they
tried to rub their clothes clean the
more sturdily he lent IA helping hand
to their endeavors 10y an application
of the sad equipment of every Austrian
non commissioned officer, the stick. -
While he was fully at work, emitting
away at the men with powerful arm,
the door opened, and the officer on
duty entered the guard-room
Attention = commanded the SER
geant; and, saluting the superior, he
made the usual report that nothing
worth remarking had happened. The
officer, young ensign, fresh from the
military school, and almost a boy,
took no notice whatever of this impor-
\ tant news, but asked the sergeant, in
! a BRISK and somewhat impetnous man
ner, what he was again striking the
men for
The sergeant, already much annoy
ed at this interference, gave surly
and unwilling answer, and when the
young officer rebuked him in severe
and, perhaps somewhat hanghty man
ner, the violent and passionate man,
loosing all sclf-control, lifted up his
hand against the officer
it was but one fatal moment, quick
as lightning. The uplifted hand never
descended; it was caught by dozen
powerful arms. He was felled to the
ground and disarmed Half an hour
afterwards he found himself in irons
IN the classmates.
Lifting the arm against a superior
is considered capital crime. la this
case it had been committed whilst both
parties we're on duty, aud the Austrian
military laws are the very last in the
world to be tililed with The follow
ing day he was tried by court-martial
and sentenced to be shot When the
sentence was forwarded to the compe-
tent authority for ratification, it hap
pened to be the superlor's anniversary
day; capital punishment was commut-
cd, the prisoner had to run the gaunt-
let
A cruel act of grace was this com
mutation When the first sentence
had been read over to him, he had
remained cold, impossible; not mus
Gle of his proud face stirred He did
not fear death; he had looked it in
the face many time without finch
ing; and to die III the open air. pier
ced by dozen balls, soldiers death,
what should lie care much for that -
Bat when he was informed that he
had TO run the gauntlet twice through
his company, after having been pre-
viously degraded, he trembied for the
first time IN his life. He knew Of
many soldier who had run the gaunt-
let thrice through n whole battalion,
and not even the worse for it after all;
he knew of some that had married af-
forwards and brought up families of
children; he was fully aware that the
issue of tins terrible torture depended
entirely upon the disposition OF the
men. Dreadful reflection Above all
he thought OF the shame, the dishonor
and the proud heart was well nigh CIV
ing way.
On the evening previous to the pun
ishment, the 2d rifle battalion of kner-
enbuller infantry, would have been
unfit for service; the men We're drunk.
They had got up carousal III joy and
honor of the coming day. But IN the
morning they were sober enough. The
drums ceased to beat as soon as the
prisoner had arrived in the middle of
the square; his escort fell back. He
stood alone near the right wing of his
company There was dead silence;
not respiration was to be heard from
all the thousands gathered on the spot.
The commanding officer read the SEN
tence over to him for the second time.
This done he exorted the men, ac-
cording to custom, to dispense with
all feelings of compassion, and TO do
their duty conformably to the law
The colonel went through this part OF
the formality in quick and hurried
manner, as if he was unwilling to per
form it, SO he was; he knew but too
well, that, in this instance, there was
no need for exortation. These pre-
liminaries being over, the prisoner was
delivered into the hands of the pro-
vost.
When the latter tore off from his
uniform the golden lace and galloons,
the marks of his military rank, throw
ing them at his feet, the face of the
unfortunate man became purple, and
his dark eyes flashed fire. When he
was stripped of his coat and shirt, and
placed Mt the entry of the terrible
street through which he had to pass,
he became pale a. ain Two soldiers
} went ahead; they marched backward
with their bayonets presented to his
breast, so as to force him to keep
measure to drum which brought ur
the rear The drum was mutiied; Its
slow and small beats sounded like the
music of a funeral procession.
When he received the first stroke
his features assumed an expression O
pain, and his frm-set lips quivereo
slightly. This was however, the only