Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-01-14

lhe ioiioMlnS appears III the ortianu
Advertiser:
"One morning early in January, 1864,
| took up the Washington Chronicle, |
and read "The sentence of death re-
Gently passed by court.martial upon the
four deserters has been ap-
proved by the President, and Friday, |
the 29th instant has been fixed upon for
their execution"
81 would gladly have avoided that
paragraph, but my eye caught its dread
import too quickly. cannot forget, l
thought, and it will haunt me as the
time approaches. 1t was then the Gus
tom, l believe, to make military execu-
tions, which had not yet become common
in the army, as impressive, that is to say,
as CHASTITY as possible; and who could
imagine the awful scene, even for mo-
ment, and not lose all the warmth and
cheer of that glad holiday sunshine.
at was now Wednesday, and the next
Friday was the fatal day. About ten
O'Clock gentleman of my acquaintance
came to my room saying, there was a
woman below whose husband was SEN
fenced to be shot, and couldn't | do
something to help her? The woman was
indeed there, and in great distress, for
her husband was one of the doomed four.
He had deserted, nor will | suppress the
/ further fact that this was the second time
he had attempted to rejoin his family,
nor the further circumstance doubt
/ ful palliation-that he had done so while
excited with drink. Even if the sol
dier's misconduct had made me indiffer
ent to his fate-and it certainly had not
his poor wife's distress would have
aroused my warmest sympathies.
Il had some sli hit acquaintance with
one or two senators, and even with the
Vice President, bat could they, or would
they, help me in this matter Had not
the poor woman come to Washington a
fortnight before, and with senator to
help her, tried in vain to get an audience
with the President, till heart and hope
had failed her? y l bethink myself
of the Presidents private Secretary, and
soon gain admission to that great man.
"Can we see the President?
"He is so busy, think it doubtful"
"Our business is very urgent-a mat
ter of life or death do you think we
can see him ?"
II cannot tell you madam"
do you think it probable we can get
an interview, if we wait ?"
Madam, cannot tell you.'
"That was all the great man said, and
we left his august presence profoundly
convinced that he was the most impor.
tant parsonage upon the premises, except
perhaps the lackey WHO first met us al
the door. We returned to our places il
the waiting-room, and seeing a female
servant crossing the hall, | asked,
Will you carry card to Mrs. Lin
coln?"
"You cannot see her; she is sick"
81 do not wish to see her. Will yor
carry her card 2"
"The servant asserting, l penciled {
few words upon card, the purport o
which may be guessed. At length Sec
retaries Chase, Seward and Stanton COM
out, so that | knew the Cabinet meeting
is over. And now, is it possible ?--th
usher approaches us.
Have you any letters for the Presi
dent?
81 handed him one-the letter of
little child, the daughter of the cor
demned. 1t was the child's own though
as she had written it without promptin
or aid, and while the President is read
ing il ycu may do the same.
"To his Excellency the President of th
United States:
Most honered and excellent Sir :
. How shall a child like me attempt
write to you on such business as this col