Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-08-03
TALES AND SKETCHES.
THE REPRIEVED sOLDIEs
BIT REV. C. i. wooDwoRTH.

In the spring of 1864, there was confined
iu the city prison at Norfolk, Va, Union
soldier-a young man of twenty-five
charged with desertion. court martial
had already sa. upon the case, and he was
awaiting his sentence.
The circumstances, which were deeply
interesting; and excited wide sympathy in
behalf of the prisoner, were simply these: :
A Virginian by birth, the remorseless con-
scription had forced him into the rebel army,
but with.full purpose on bis part, as he al
WAYS maintained, not to fire shot against
the old flag, and to desert to the Union
lines at the earliest opportunity.
1t so happened that the chance which be
sought occurred during the siege of Wash
ington, n. G., in the spring of 1868, and
with six other Virginians and three East
Tennesseeans, be came over to our pickets
and surrendered himself a prisoner OF war.
we'll remember their appearance when
they were brought in, and how our feelings
were narrowed up by the tales of cruelty
and suffering which they told. Protesting
to be Union men, however, they were soon
liberated by our government, and permitted
to go North and reside where they choose.
This man, it would seem, made his way to
Portsmouth, N. Fl and during the excite
ment which followed tue Presidents call for
troops the ensuing fall. he was persuaded
to enlist in the Tenth regiment of that State.
Soon after, his regiment was sent TO the vi
cinity of Norfolk, where it went into camp
for the winter. Here it was that lie was
tempted to commit the crime for which be
had forfeited his life.
The soldiers quartered in the country
around we're in the habit, ss often as they
could, of coming into the city on passes
properly endorsed BY their officers. But as
the privilege had been frequently abused,
the regulations concerning it had gradually
become more strict, till at length it was diff
ficult to get q pass for such purpose
Now it was that the ingenuity of the SOL
diers set to work to outwit their comman'
ders. The plan hit upon was this They
induced farmer living near the camp to
lease or sell them suit of his clothes. A
soldier had only to dotf his uniform and pu,
on the farmers suit, therefore, and he coulo
cross the lines of the camp uuchallenged
and come to the city at his leisure. Quite
q number had done this with complete sue
cess, not considering that they were viola
ting rule of war whose penalty was death
The prisoner was among the number. Fail
ing to get pass after repeated attempts, III
had put on the farmers dress, walked bold
" out of camp, and started for Norfolk
Six hours afterward he was brought bacl
40 deserter, having been met on the roat
by his Colonel and Captain, recognized AM
arrested. Yet even then the poor fellow
did not dream of the nature of the crime h
had committed. and what were the charge
that would be preferred against him. 1t wa
not till few days, when he was arraigne'
before military court, and put on trial 10
, his life, that he understood his position.
1t was in vain that he asserted his inno
, cence of any intent to do wrong, least Of a.
to desert that he pleaded that Others ha
: done just what he had done with no ev1
design. Appearances were all against hin
He was without his uniform, disguised
. fleeing from his regiment. He was also
Southerner, aud deserter from the rebt
army, and it was presumed that he Wa
t either trying to play the same game on Vi
or else was rebel spy on his way to til
enemy. In either case ne deserved deatl
and death was his sentence. He had hare
. ly thought such result possible. Wher
. therefore, his sentence was read to him, b
was overwhelmed with anazement an
|. agony not the unmanly and contemptib
u agony of q coward, but the agony thu
u shrinks from greater dishonor. He ha
!. fully anticipated an acquittal. thinking th
a Others would look upon his fault as he di
But the cruel verdict, falling with wisberir
of and stunning force, crushed out all ligl
8 and hope. BY a singular coincidence 1t W
: the 10Th of April, just one year from Il
" time he had come into our lines at Was
g. ington. had been to the hospital. but b,
l. returned to my quarters, and was about 81
ting down to dinner, when note was han
y ed me from the captain of the prison, ur
y ing me to come at once and see man who
>. had met twelvemonth before as ret
y, deserter now doomed to die as Union q
serter
The recognition was mutual. Moani
: piteousiy, he said:
ut ats murder, it's murder They vol
kill me, will theyr f.,- ...-. .-y9.