The Republican journal., 1871-02-02

swords, and the catastrOphy was no longer
to be avoided. Blood was in the eyes OF
soldiers, and none in the cheeks Of the Off
cers-vengeance was IN the hearts OF the
men, and fear in the souls Of the command
ers. There was quick roll OF the drum-a
few explosive orders-a sudden rush-a sort
of dizzy whirl; the lieutenant colonel mar
rowly escaped, and, by quick movement OF
the guard a sergeant and several men,
whose names were on the paper, were ar
rested and lodged in the guard house. A
double force was posted to prevent the res
cue of the prisoners-and the immediate
danger was over
After the storm, the calm. The anxiety
Of some men to get into trouble is only ex-
ceeded by their solicitude to get out of it. 1t
happened so with these. The violent and
headlong haste of the action was eclipsed by
the reaction. To the swordless officers mus
ing in their separate tents, and the imprison-
ed soldiers discussing the affair between their
! bars, there came in due time repentance and
regret.
Through the clemeney of the man whom
they sought to destroy, there was at last af-
forded, on certain conditions the opportunity
to erase their names from that black muster
roll, and secure restoration to duty Some
quickly. others reluctantly but finally all
one-the sergeant, the leader the prime
mover and champion of the affair.
He scorned forgiveness, it implied an ac-
acknowledgement Of guilt. He would stand
by the deed; whatever the law called it, he
held it just resistance to tyranny. He had
sought no mans life. He had felt-''We
cannot live together; therefore, do thou go
thy way, and will mine J" and he had sim
ply said so. If that was a crime, he could
not help it. No matter if thousand men
were towards, he had not the blood of pol
! troon in his veins. He should never promise
touch his hat, and, bowing low, beg to
have his name blotted out of the list His
soul revolted at it. He would live and die
by that solemn protest against the authority
OF domineering coward and an incompe-
tent commander.
SO the law took him and tried him before
q general court martial, found him guilty,
and sentenced him ito be shot to DEATH"
The general approved the finding and SEN
tence OF the court and the day and the hour
OF the execution were fixed in an order that
was read, on q certain evening at dress-pa-
rade, to each regiment of the division. And
with the words of that order Il cloud fell on
the whole command.
The law was ineXorable, and the court had
no Alternative. Being guilty this was the pun
lshment prescribed, without that saving
clause which puts the offender at the mercy
OF the court-"or such other punishment as
the court may direct" But did he deserve
death? Not man in all the command be-
lleyed 1t. The men knew it was the letter of
the law that was Staying him; but how to
invoke its spirit, and whether the spirit could
save him if it would, sorely puzzled them
They We're satisfied that he should be pun
lshed, but by something less severe and IRE
yocable than death.
With what crushing weight the thought
came home to their hearts, that q good SOL
dler, true patriot, was to be shot for q
technlcality, at the end of a long war through
winch he had faithfully served! How they
talked about that lonesome, weary wife, and
her eager and expectant children, away at
the north, watching with bated breath the
opening OF the mail that was so soon, if not
to-day, to bring her the news of the final dis
charge of the second cavalry Who could
hold pen to write this other news in its
stead? Who could send home to her the
picture of her own sweet face, with the curl
OF baby's hair on the glass, as he had worn
It next to his heart so many years, through
flood and field, and write the words This,
with his undying love, he bade me send you
his last request?''
Did ever the reluctant days drag . man to
such hopeless, bottomess doom9
If only he had fallen on some fierce battle
field, madly striking for his country. If
only he had been slain on the picket line,
plotting the grand old army to Victory! If
he could have died in the hospital, slowly
wasted away by incurable wounds or dis
ease, or been sacrificed in southern prison,
enduring outrage and starvation with the
1orltude born of honor and patriotism If
only in any way his blood might have been
reckoned as a part of the price paid for lib
erty and free government
But no-none Of these The very record
OF his devotion to his country's cause, and of
his faithful years of untiring service, was to
be blotted out.-His memory was to be
Dlackened forever, and his name to become
legacy OF shame to his children; and vet
they knew he was conscious of no crime!
Was it possible to save him in any way?
Could he be pardoned, or his sentence be
committed? Yes, but only one man could do
1.-THE General. Would he do it? Only one
man in all the command could ask it and
hope to be heard-the lieutenant colonel.
Would he do it?
The days OF respite passed rapidly, and
the anxiety and sympathy for the doomed
man constantly increased in a cumulative
ratio. At last the indispensable man arrived
at the division headquarters with 'spetition
for pardon" and asked the staff to Sign it.
Every valid reason that could be found was
urged, and he went away with all our names.
lie Jared the same at brigade Headquarters
and by the time he reached the commanders,
OF regiments, who all signed it, the report
had reloiced the hearts of every tent-squads
III the whole division, They knew it would
be granted-the general could not avoid it
he wouldn't dare to shoot him in the face of
that list OF names. There was u threat of
vengeance lurking in every expression of
JOY. G." OFF,
Armed with the petition, the lieutenant
colonel went to the general, and, gathering
up all the eloquence of all the arguments,
laid the case before him. He would s'consider
the matter;" and the Colonel was dismissed.
A day passed by without an answer An
other, and still no reply. The third-some
anxiety was manifested. The fourth, the
solicitude increased. On the fifth day the
old fear seized them. The sixth-not a word
spoken-to-morrow, "between the hours Of
ten and twelve O'clock" they Law in
squads, scattered through the camps, talk
ing until late into the night, not caring to
sleep; and the reveille seemed to break in
upon their first nap.
The morning wore away in the midst of
its usual duties.
Seven o'clock-breakfast There was the
usual hum throughout the camps, the neigh
ing of the horses, and the voices of the men
calling back and forth, as they struggled in,
each to his own mess. Once more, as they
drank their coffee and ate their hard bread
and bacon, grumblingly denouncing the