The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-02-08

I spirit had flown to the seat Of Infinite
Mercy and Love.
And then they told me that when I
fell my horse ran up to me, and that by
jumping upon him, in the confusion,
Charlie might have made his escape
But he threw himself across my body,
and there fought like Paladin, until
he was shot in the back by one of his
valiant foes.
WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE.
Leesburg was near, why was I not
sent there Only dozen mel remain
ed at the advance post; but knew
that the Lieutenant commanding the
detachment was awaiting some import
ant order.
Early the next morning, I heard the
clatter Of horses hoofs on the hard
road, and soon afterwards Federal off.
Ger entered the room where I moodily
lay. Of course, he did not condesceud
to take off his hat or bow, but, throw
ing himself upon the solitary chair, he
said:
"Wbat is your name, rank and
duty ?"
gave him these particulars. adding
that I had the honor Of belonging to the
military family of Lieutenant General
James Longstrse:, whose name he had
perhaps heard before.
"What are you doing so far from
your command ?"
81 am on special duty"
"What is is, and where are your
orders?"
81 cannot answer your first question,
and as to the second, my orders were
verbal, so that have not a scrap OF
paper Of any kind about me to show
what I am."
He remained silent, bitinr his lips,
for q moment, and then said:
"This game wont do; it has been
played once too often. We had deter
mined to make an example Of the first
man of your command that We could
catch, and it's rather unlucky for your
friends that we happened on you"
This annoyed rather than alarmed
me.
"For what do you take me, sir-'a
spyp
"And worse"
"For General Lee, perhaps, or Mr.
Davis ?"
II know you. You are one Of Mos
by's damnable gang of thieviDg, mur-
dering guerillas!
"Well, sir; and what have they done
to excite your wrath ?"
"Douel what have they not done
We haven't moments rest. They
are here, there and everywhere. Wher'
ever they see head they bitit, and are
gone before we can get at them. A
wagon cannot 60 mile out Of camp
without being captured By Mosby. a
scouting party goes out and don't come
back-captured by Mosly. Our Off
GERS are seized in their beds at night,
and are missing in the morning-cap-
tured BY MosIy. We have hunted him
month after month, but cannot catch
him. This house is one Of his stopping
places, yet We can never run him to
earth. I tell you that this rascally
guerilla, Mosby, has done the United
States more real hurt than any one d.
vision in the Rebel army.
Ny inquisitorial friend bcorishly took
hisdepar.ure.
| The day wore slowly on and Annie
contrived to see me. She was sad, very
sad, and l did my best to comfort her
The diuplcd hand was clasped IN mine
the fair head, With its wealth Of ripping
golden hair, rested on my breast. Yet
the tears gathered in her eyes, and
when eutreatcd her to tell me The
cause OF her distress she tore hersel
from my embrace and fed from the
room.
1 This set me to musing why woman
should weep when she must be perfect
Iy happy. My reverie was cut short by
the entrance of the morose Lieutenant,
who, without one word of preface, told
me that in accordance with the sentence
of a regimeptal court martial, held tina
morning, was to be shot as one of Nos
5y's spies at sunrise the coming day.
DE PRoFUNDIs!
My mind was 90 confused that it va
long ere realized the extent OF m!
danger. For time I could neither
think nor determine what to do. Ther
Q thousand thoughts and fancies chased
each other through my brain, until i
seemed that my senses were leaving me
,, Soon I became more calm. 1t was clea
now that Annie had known my doom
and the guard at my door, touched per
haps, told me that this bonnie girl o
mise had 80 far forgotten her voranl.
difideuce and Southern pride as Il
! plead for MY life, or ct least for post
J pouemeut Of the hous appointed for N.
execution. Her prayers were met Will
words Of insulting disdain. 1t grievet
ne sorely that for my sake, she hat
ventured and borne 30 much. I blamed
her for what she had done; yet iovet
her all the more.
She came to me again, aud for hour
We sat together. The sweet misery o
|, those last moments must live while lifi
shall last. But it was now near sunse!
aud when day should break Insuss di