Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-02-14
A STORY OF THE LOST CAUSE
The Last Military Execution I'm the
Confederate Army, as Witnessed by
an ex.COnfederate.

L
The long and wavering lines of Lee
had at last yielded. Richmond had sue
cumbed to inevitable fate and the fortune
of war. The conference at Appoma ttox
! had taken place. The Army of Northern
| Virginia, with its deeds of heroism and
valor, had passed into history; but there
we're other armies and other detschmenh
that we're still trying to uphold the ill
fated banner of the doomed Confederacy.
| Among them was Giltners Brigade of
Kentucky cavalry, which, at the time of
the surrender at tAppomattox, was trying,
| by forced marches. to reach Fitzhugh
Lees command. AL
Rumors of the downfall of the Confed-
eracy had reached the CONNIE nd, but not
through q reliable source. In the mean
time many brave and gallant men, who
had met and defied death in thousand
forms for what they believed to be a
sacred cause, had become almost mutin-
Gus, and desertions we're so numerous
that the commander was com PEELED either
to punish the guilty or disband the
brigade. Thus, after brief consultation
with his staff, the comma ,nder deter
mined to punish those who tempted to
desert, and Immediately ga ve orders to
that effect.
On Saturday night, April 10, while we
were encamped upon the h lights of the
Alleghanies, two brothers by the name
of May, Kentuckians, who had passed
three years battling for the "Bsnner OF
Right" attempted to desert and return
to their homes.
They failed in the attempt, and being
arrested in the very act, were taken to
brigade hesdquer ters, ctourt-martialed,
and sentenced to be exc cuted at eight
o'clock the next morning.
"Saddle up" was the order at seven
o'clock the following morni ug, and before
the mountain tops were clad in the soft
golden light Of the rising aun, we were
mounted, formed, and marched forward
half mile, on to plateau of few acres
in extent, and formed inte hollow
square, fronting inward and tho right
open.
Various ruwors were afloat as to what
was going to transpire. Some thought
we were to receive our long looked-for
pay. Others, that we were to be dis
banded, and, a few, that we were to be
surrendered.
But alas no one, save few regimen
tai commanders, knew of the horrid
scene that we were drawn up to witness
for few minutes after being formed,
squad of dismounted cavalry emerged
from q cluster of timber near by,
marched into the center of the square,
escorting the two prisoners.
Tko D...aIa nd his utuH
being dsmounted, marched to where the
prisoners were, and the order, Atten-
ton, brigadel" being given by the Adju'
tant, the death.sentence Of the two
brothers was read, and preparation at
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 of
the first squad, facing the prisoners.
Their arms we're grounded, aud the lieu
tenanant proceeded to load them, which
he did all, save one.
In the meantime the brothers were pre-
pairing to meet their inevitable fate.
An officer, q personal friend of the con-
demued, had been permitted to dismount
and talk with them for the last time; and,
by him they sent loving and dying mes
ssges 10 their parents far away in their
Kentucky homes.
The squad in front now stood with their
pieces at shoulder, arms" The squad
ia the rear at order, armt;" in case the
first platoon failed to do the work, they
were to finish 1t.
Every soldier Of the command was now
to witness the death of their comrades.
Many wished to dismount that they might
not be compelled to view the dreadful
scene. But, military law is inexorable,
and all we're compelled to witness 1t.
The prisoners stood before their execu-
TONERS with an arm of each bandaged
together-brothers in blood, brothers in
arms, and now soon to be brothers In
death. Not q muscle moved, not cheek
blanched, and each one throwing the arm
that was unpinioned around the other,
embraced each other for the last time.
At this critical and exciting moment q
perfect hum of voices could be heard
along the line, and many outbursts OF
denuncialiou could be heard, and an
epleute seemed TO be inevitable, but these
outbursts of disapprobation we're silenced
in an instant by the order of the Lieuten-
ant commanding the squad, who gave the
command, MAKE ready y" Take aim
:" Firel" At the crash Of the rifles the
fetters that bound the condemned together
burst asunder, and throwing up their
arms they reeled and fell to the earth,
pierced BY balls Immediately the bri-
gade was ordered into column, and
marched bv the remains as they lay Gov
cred with gore.
Apparently but few Of the soldiers ex.
pected that this horrible massacre would
take place, for they supposed that the
commander would respite them even after
the guns were loaded. But no. To-day,
upon those fsr-awsy nights, sleep the