Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-03-03
STORY OF THE LOST CAUSE.
LAST RxEcUTIoE IN THE CoNFEDERATE
ARMY.

had at last yielded. Richmond hSd sue
cumbed to inevitable fate, and the for
tune Of war. The conference at Apo
mattox had taken place.
The Army of Northern Virginia, with
its deeds Of heroism and vaIor, had
passed into history; but, there were 9th.
or armies and other detachments that
were still trying to uphold the i'll fated
banner of the doomed Confederacy.
Among them was Giltner's brigade of
Kentucky Cavalry which at the time of
the surrender at Appomattox was trying,
by forced marches, to reach Fitzhugh
Lees command
Rumors of the downfall Of the Con-
federacy had reached the command, but
not through . reliable source Ia the
meantime many brave and gallsnt men,
wholhad met and defied death in thou
sand forms for what they believed to be
n sacred cause, had become almost muffin
Gus, and assertions were so numerous
that the commander was compelled eth
er to punish the guilty or disband the
brigade. Thus, after brief consulta,
ton with his staff, the commander deter.
mined to punish those who attempted
to desert, and Immediately gave orders
to that effect. e-.r-.
On Saturday night April 90, while
We were encamped on the heights of
tho AlIeghanies. two brothers by tae
name of May. KeDtuckians, Who had
passed three years battling for the Ban
ner of Right attempted to dessrt and
return to their homes.
They failed in the attempt. and being
arrested in the very oct, were taken to
brigade headquarters, court martialed,
aud sentenced to be executed at O'Clock
in the morning.
Saddle up was the order at Z o'clock
the following morning, and before the
mountain tops we're clad in the soft gol
den light of the rising sun, we were
mounted, formed, and marched forward
half mile, on TO a plateau Of few
acres in extent, and formed into hollow
square. fronting inward, and the right
open. -s1 mas .l.aafr Il - .tuJi
Various Tumors were af1oat rs to what
was going to transpire. Some thought
We were to receive our long looked for
paw. Others, that We were to be dis.
banded; and few, that We were to be
surrendered. .rs
But alas no one, save few regimen
tai commanders, knew of tho Thorrid
scene that we were drawn up TO witness,
for few minutes after being formed. q
squad Of dismounted cavalry emerged
from a cluster of timber near by, escor-
ting the two prisoners. .,,,,.-G
The brigade commander and his staff,
being dismounted, marched to where the
prisoners were, and the order, Atten.
ton, brigsder being given by the Ad-
jutant, the death sentence of the two
brothers was read, and preparations al
once made to execute them.
Immediately after the order was read
eight files more of dismounted cavalry,
with unloaded carbines, marched into
the square, under the charge of lieu
tenant, and were brought up in front oil
the first squad, facing the prisoncrs.-
Thir arms were grounded, and the lieu.
tenant proceeded to load them, which he
did all, save one.
In the meantime the brothers were
preparing to meet their inevitable fate. {
An officer, a personal friend of the
condemned, had been permitted to dis
mount and talk with them for the las
lime; and by him they sent loving and
dying messages to their parents far away
10 their Kentucky homes. Lsr
The squad in front now stood with
their pieces at shoulder arms in case
the frat platoon failed to do the work,
they were to finish it.
Every soldier9ofI the comniald WA,
now TO witness the death of two of Their
comrades, Many wished TO ,dismount,
that they might not be compelledto view
the dreadful scene. Bat military law j:
memorable, and all were compelled to
witness IL. -reHl ssfL s.Esr-5 siie.C.t.tg
The prisoners stood before their execu.
tons with an arm Of each bandaged to.
rgsther--brothers in blood, brothers In
arms, and now soon to be brothers II
death. Not muscle moved, mot 9
cheek blsnched, and each one throwing
the arm that was unpinioned around the
other, embraced each other for the last
time. At this eriticsl and exciting mo-
ment, perfect hum of voices could be
heard, and an snaelae seemed to be,insv.
liable, but these outbursts of disappro ba
ton were silenced in an instant by the
order of the lieutenant commanding the
squad. who gave The command, MAKE
ready'-sTake aim Firer At the
crash of the rifles the letters that bound
the condemned together burst asundsr
and, throwing up their arms. they reeled
and fell to the earth, pierced by balls
Immediately the brigade was ordered in
TO column. and marched by the remains
rs they Law covered with gore.
Apparently but few OF the soldiers ex
pectsd that this horrible massacre would
take place. for they, supposed the com
mandsr would respite them even after
the guns were loaded. But, no. Tc