Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-04-16
A Story Of the Lost Cause.

possesses thrilling interest:
The long and wavcring lines Of Lee had,
at last, yielded. Richmond had succumbcd
to inevitable fate aud the fortune Of war.
The conference at Appomattox had taken
place.
The army Of Northern Virginia, with
its deeds of heroism aud valor, had passed
into history; but there were other armies
and other dctachmcnts that we're still try
ing to uphold the il,fatcd banner Of the
doomed Confederacy.
Among thcm were. Giltncr's Brigade Of
Kentucky Cavalry, which at the time Of
the surrender ut Appomatox was trying,
by forced marches, to reach Fitzhugh
Lees command.
Rumors of the downfall of the Confed-
cracy had reached the command. but not
through reliable source. In the mean.
time, many brave and gallant man. who
forms for what they believed to be sacred
cause, had become almost mutinous, and
| descrtions were SO numerous that the com
mandcr WAS compelled either to punish the
guilty or d>band the brigade. Thus, after
hricI consultation with his staff, the com
mandcr determined to punish those who
a'tcmptcl to desert, and Immediately gave
orders to that effect
On Saturday night April Goth, while
we were cncampea upon the nights Of the
| Al!cghanics, two brothers by the name Of
May Kcntnckians. who had passed three
years battling for the Banner OF Right"
attempted to desert aud return to their
homes.
They failed in their attempt, and being
arrested in the very act. were taken to
brigade headquarters, court-martialetl and
sentenced to bc executed at s o'clock in
the morning.
Sable mp" was the order at : o'clock
the following morning. aud before the
mountain tops were clad in the soft golden
light Of the morning sun, We were mounted,
formci. and marched forward Il half mile,
to plateau few miles in extent, and
formed into hollow square, the left in-
ward aud the right open.
| Various rumors were ahoat as to what
was about to transpirc. Some thought we
were to receive our long looked.for back
ray. Others. that VIC were to be dis.
bandcl and few, that we were to be
surrcD Tered.
But alas. no one. save few regimcntal
commanders, knew of the horria scene VIC
we're drawn up to witness; for few mo-
ments after being formed Il squad of dis
mnun.cl cavalry emerged from Il cluster
Of timber near by, and marched into the
centre Of the square, cscortiny the two
prisoners.
| The brigade commander and his staff,
being dsnuun.c marched to where the
prisoners were and the order, Attention,
brigade" being given by the Adjutant,
the death sentence Of the two brothers was
read, and preparations at once made to
execute them.
Immc iia,cly after the order was read
eight files more of dismountcl cavalry,
with unloaded carbines, marched into the
square. under the charge of Il Lieutenant,
and were brought in front Of the first
squad, facing the prisoners. Their arms
were grounded, and the Lieutenant pro
cccded to load tien, which he did all, save
one.
In the meantime the brothers were
preparing to meet their inevitable fate.
An officer, personal friend of the con
dcmned, had been permitted to dismount
aud talk with them for the last time aud
by him they sent loving and dying mes
sages to their parents fer away in their
Kentucky homes.
The squad in front now stood with their
pieces at shoulder arms" The squad in
the rear at +" order arms" in case the frs,
platoon failed to do the work, they were to
finish it.
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 witness the dreadful
scene. But military law is memorable, and
all were compelled to witness it.
The prisoners stood befre their exccu.
TONERS with an arm of each bandaged TO
gcther-brothcr in blond. brothers in
arms, and now soon to bc brothers in death
Not muscle moved, not cheek blanched
and each one throwing the arm that was
not pinioned around the other. embrace
the other for the last time. At this criti
cal and exciting moment, a perfect hun
of voices could be he,rd along the line
and many outbursts of denunciations conld
be heard. aud an cmente sccmcl to be in
cvitablc, but these outbursts Of disapproba
ton were silenced in an instant by an or
der of the Lieutenant commanding thu
squad. who gave the command, MAKE
rcady"-'Takc aim" Fire" At th'
crash Of the rifles the fetters that bount
the condemned burst asunder, and throw
, ing up their arms. they reecd aud feel t.
the earth pierced by balls. Immediatcl,
the brigade was ordered into column, anc
marched by the remains as they lay covered
with gore.
Apparently but few Of the soldiers ex
pected that this horrible massacre woult
take place, for they supposed the com
mauder would respite them even after tb'
s.irs we're loaAei Bu'. p,. Tc ia~