Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1867-01-08
THE RETRIEVED SOLDIER.
By REV. c. L. wooDwoRrH.

In the spring of 1864 there was coniinee
in the city prison at Norfolk, Va, Unor
soldier young man of twenty -two-charg
ed with desertion. A court martial had al
ready sat upon has case, and he was waiting
it, sentence.
The circumstances. which were deeply in
teresting, and excited wide sympathy in be
half Of the prisoner, were briefly these
A Virginian by birth, the remorseless con
sscription had forced him into the rebel army
but with the full purpose on his part, as BE-
always maintained, not TO fire q shot against
the old flag, and 70 desert to the Union lines
at the earliest opportunity.
II SO happened that the chance which he
sought occurred during the siege Of Wash.
ing,on, N. C., in the spring Of 1863, and
with six other Virginians, and three Eas,
Tennesseeans, he came over TO our pickets
and surrendered himself prisoner Of war;
l well remember their appearance when they
were brought in, aud how our feelings were
narrowed up by the tale Of cruelty and suffer.
ing which they told. Processing to be Union
men, however, they were soon liberated By
our government, and permitted to 90 North.
and reside wherever they might choose.
This man, it would seem, made his way to
Portsmouth, N. H., and during the excite,
ment that followed the Presidents call for
troops the ensuing fall, was persuaded to en-.
list In the 10th regiment Of that State. Soon
after his regiment was sent to the vicinity Of
Norfolk, where it vert into camp for the
winter. Here it was that be was tempted to
commit the crime for which he had forfeited
his life.
The soldiers quartered in the country
around, we're ia the habit, ~ often ~ 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.
cult to get pass for such purpose.
Now it was that the ingenuity Of the sol.
diers sci 70 work to outwit their commanders.
The plan his spon was this. They induced
. farmer, living near the camp, to loan or
sell them o suit Of bis clothes. A soldier
had only to dot his uai.orm and put on the
farmers suit, therefore, aud be could cross
the lines Of his camp unchallengcd, and
come to the city at his leisure. Quite .
number had done this with complete success,
considering that they we're violating a rule
Of war whose penalty was death. The pris-
oner was among the number. Failing to
get pass, after repeated attempts, be had
put on the farmers dress, walked bcldly out
Of camp and started for Norfolk. SiA hours
afterwards he vas hroagh. back as desert.
er, having been met on the road by his Col
onel and Captain, recognized and arrested.
Yet even then the poor fellow did not dream
Of the nature Of the crime be had commit
ted, and what were the charges that would
be preferred against him. Il was not till q
few days later, when be vas arraigned before
. military court and put on trial 70. his life,
that be understood the danger Of his position.
Il was vain that he asserted his innocence
Of any intent to do wrong, least o. all to de-.
sert /; that he pleaded that others Lad done
just what he had with no evil design. Ap-
'pesFaucss x6se alf sgainst him. He was
without bis uniform, disguised, fleeing from
his regiment. He was else Southerner,
and deserted from the rebel army, and it
was presumed that be was either trying to
play the same game on Us, or else was reb-
el spy on his way to the enemy. In either
case he deserved death, and death was the
sentences He bad hardly thought such q
resul, posssble. When, therefore, his SEN
was read to him, be was overwhelmed with
amazement and agony; not the unmanly and
contemplate agony Of coward, but the ag-
ony that shrinks from great dishonor. He
had fully anticipated an acquittal, thinking
that others would look upon his fault as be
did. But the cruel verdict, falling with un.
ering and stunning force, crushed out all
light and hope. BY singular coincidence,
il was the 18th Of April, just one year from
the time he had come into cur lines at Wash.
ington. l had been to the hospital, but had
returned 70 my quarters, and Was about sit.
ting down to dinner, when note was hand.
ed me from the captain Of the prison, urging
me to come At once and see Q man senten-
least delay possible, hurried over to the
prison. Coming to the cell, what was my
surprise to see . man whom ! had met q
twelve month before as a rebel deserter, now
doomed to die as Union deserter.
The recognition was mutual. Moaning
piteously, he said
"It's murder, it's murder. They won,
kill me, will they?''
"My friend" replied, "this is strange
and sod meeting. hadn't dream of see.
ing you here. ! deeply feel tor you, and
hope tou are not guilty Of the crime fol
which you arc condemned
90, sir! Gcd knows / am not. How
could they think sol didn't mean to dc
anything wrong, never thought to desert
] only wanted TO come to Norfolk 10 buy mt
some things tha, needed. asked my cap
tain fora pass time aud time again, but-ht
wouldn'tg give me one. cnst put on thu
other clothes as others did. And now
muat die for IL q God q Godi neyel
thought it would come to this t.
Stopi Siopl can't bear this. Yo'
are a soldier, you are not afraid to die b
. man. Be calm, and let us quietly look a
your condition and determine what is best i
be dQne.',
"ThatA true, sir. Tam soldier, -. nd
can die % soldier But 70 have my uni