Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1867-01-08

be shot like dog! can't bear it,"
"But it is better To die innocent thar
guilty. Better die under false charges tha,
true. If you uere deserter, the dishono
would be real and indelible. II, on the oh
er hand, you are gultless, the dishonor i
only in seeming, your own soul and God vii
clear YOU of all inheren, shame''
"That's so. But it is bard to have one'
friends think he is guilty when be is not"
"Yes But it would be harder to hav,
ones friends think he is guilty if he were
II know. Bit it's dreadful, dreadful
What shall do p
"Do? Be a man. Do your duty. Yol
are sentenced to be shot, expect YOU viii
meet your fate like brave man. Not COW
ardly fears. no ptiable displays Of weakness
and trembling
~ am not afraid to die. But TO have m,
comrades think me deserter!"
"Perhaps they will not. But IL they DO
It will not make you so, unless you intended
10 h."
"True. But I could die in peace, if
knew they Wrought me innocent"
"God willtake care Of that Let US leav'
it to him."
Ell me, tHcHy Wuht w w.
"Have yon any friendsT
"Yes A father and sisters"
Do thew know you are Union soldier 2
ayes. They are Union people. sen
70 them bv colored me that had enlist
ed in the Union army
"Have you any property that you would
like TO leAve them u rs.
"No. I'm poor boy. my father is poor
we had a mighty hard chance, sir"
"But vou have some message to senc
them? You would at least like to have
them know your fate p
10, no. It would XIII them. What wou't
thev say if they knew I was shot as de
serter? It would kill them sure. My God
my God. il must not be-" E
swell, then. let's leave them. Is there
anything else you wish to say or do fol
yonrself?"
"No, sir. would not have my friends
know that am to die like traitor. And
as for myself have no anxiety for the pres
eut."
"Then you have only to look to the life
to come. Are you ready to push aside the
veil. and step inside the endless future p
"It's awful to exchange worlds
" To the guilty, But if you have ever
made Jesus your friend, you may tread the
dark valley calmly and trustfully leaning on
Him."
"I have, at least hope so. But I've
had a right poor chance to get one."
"a few hours hence, and you expect to
be face to face with the blasting splendors
of His throne. Can you trust your eternity
in His hands?"
"Yes, 1 cam t
Because you are SO good, or so unfortu.
"Ne. I'm not good, but lie is, aud can
trust Him."
"Have you told Him that since you came
here p
"I hadn't thought of it Ieh SO bad I
couldn't pray"
"He came TO bear our griefs and carry
our sorrows. Suppos> we kneel down here
and tell him everything. ! viii lead, you
follow"
"Yes."
And SO. after reading the l4th chapter Of
John, with emf hasis and meaning we new
er com preh hended before, we kneeled togeth-
on the cold stones. As best could com
mitted him and his case unto God, asking
especially that he might live, If il should
please the Lord, but that living or dying he
might be His. And then the prisoner broke
out in such q prayer of entreaty, and resig-
nation, and trust, the most sweet eloquent
and touching, have ever listened.
We rose from our knees. / said this man
is no traitor, and must not be shot. A
great wrong will be done if he is, and my
country must not be guilty his blood.
left the cell. II was now near night.
The prisoner was to be shot between 10 and
l2 o'clock the next day. told my convic-
ton to others. We determined to make an
effort to save him. A trusty man was de-
spa,ched to Fortress Monpe to intercede
with Gen. Butler. He heard our plea and
entered into our feeling, but he had no pow
er. the President had approved and ordered
the execution. The General however at
once teegraphed to Washington asking 1t
least a reprieve for few days.
But all the night the operator stood by
his instrument watching for reply; none
came. Morning dawued bright, and calm,
and sweet but it brought no hope to the
prisoner. sought his cell. He had slept
ike child, was perfectly tranquil, and look
ed forth to his doom without dismay. He
met with q pleasant greeting, and expressed
surprise and gratitude that I had come SO
early. And then We took our testaments,
read and talked of wonderful things which
God had prepared for that love him, until
our hearts were all aglow under the visions
of glory to be revealed. Subdued thss, apd
sweetly realizing the fruitions Of fifth, we
bowed once more on the cold. naked stones,
and prayed until the cell was full Of the light
and peace Of God.
IL am ready now" were his words.
gave him nv hand promising to return at
3 o'clock to attend Nm to the place Of his
execution, four miles away.
Nine o'clock, but no reprieye; the last
hope is gone. A company Of cavalry, q
few infantry, and an ambulance form in
front Of the prison. In few moments the
prisoner, guarded on either side, comes
forth, enters the ambulance, which the cav
airy formed in hollow squars, receive into
the center. And now the whole stern array
moves slowly off to the sound Of mufled
drums, beating the sad solemn death march.
1t is the music of man on his way to the
scaffold. How its roll echoes and shivers
along the depths Of the heart? How it stills
and almost freezes the pulses! nave won
dered since when lost soul sinks down to
it. doom. whether the angels muf1e their
harps and fling across the responsive chords
the unutterable sadness which such tran
scendent event might be supposed to inspire
All me who can tellf
We had crossed the ferry to Portsmouth,
and were just passing the telegraph Office
when messenger came cut and put into the
hand of our ommander q paper. He
hastily read il, brushed tear from his eye,
and ordered a halt. Our hearts beat quick.
". Can it be thet reprieve has come te
the prisoner after his coffin and grave have
been prepared and the twelve fatal men Sc
lected by lot to execute the sentence oi
death /? It Is even SO. thank God! At a
word. the ranks open right and left, the com
mander approaches the ambulence aud
reads. Willie Brump,on is reprieved sever
days. 4. Lincoln." The gracious words
had nearly killed the prisoner. Mercy had
been more overwhelming than justice. In I
momen, he turned deadly pale, gasped. aut
caught for breath, as il he were being suff
ocated, The guards shouted, "He's dying /
But il was only for little. The poor fellow
rallied, turned 10 the soldier who sat by hi
side, threw his arms around his neck an,
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