New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-17
DOOMED TO DIE.

With pity at my heart, l stood and gazed
upon the man before me-a man, fellow
being, doomed by merciless court martial
to die; to leave the bright and beautiful
world around, and to be ushered alone into
1.-The valley of the shadow OF DEATH. A
noble looking man he was, as he stood there
unmOved amid the enemies that surrounded
HIM, and Il naughty. half sad. half defiant
expression rested upon his handsome, dar
ing face.
He was CniOn spy, captured in the con
federate lines, and bearing upon his person
reasonable papers sufficient to have con
demned a regiment. He had made a good
fight, but was at last Overpowered, the pa
pers found upon him, and, after speedy
trial. was condemned 70 die.
had formed one of the court martial. and
though knew that the crime Of being a spy
was punishable with death, yet had |
| sought to have him spared. | was Young
then, for it was the first few months of our
civil war, and was not as used to deeds OF
blood IA became in after years; and, be-
Sides the spy was young and handsome, by
his department evidently Il gentleman, and
his reckless bravery had won my admira-
| ton.
| Nightfall came upon our camp, and the
following morning the spy was to be called
out and shot. l had been appointed to
take charge of the execution, and seated in
my tent, was MISUNDERSTANDING Of the
| unpleasant duty was to perform on the
morrow.
"Lieutenant. a note for you. sir.
] started as the orderly's voice broke the
stiffness of the night, and taking the out
stretched note. read:
Pardon me for disturbing your slumbcrS,
but as you command the detachment that
will tomorrow usher ny soul into eternity,
! would see you, if your duties as an officer
do not urge to the contrary. Hoping you
will grant this favor. | remain, with re-
spect. WILBUR HAYES.
carefully read the note over twice, and
then said to the orderly:
Say that will come
4 few moments later. and stood in the
presence of the condemned man.
"Mr. Hayes, you sent for me 2
II did. lieutenant. and it was because OF
vour Kindness to me during the trial, and
also that | saw il your eyes pity for lhy
fate"
Il do feel for you-from my heart do,
aud sincerely wish had not the unpleasant
duty devolving upon me of ordering your
execution tomorrow.
Il have a favor 10 ask of you, sir: to
please order the guard to remove some dis
lance from the tent, as i: is confession
wish to make"
gave command 70 the guard to retire
a few PAGES. and returning to the tent Hayes
at once began:
IL am II" spy. sir: hut am condemned
upon circumstantial evidence | came into
the confederate lines TO visit my mother,
who lives in the South. although she is
Union in her feelings. After a visit of
few days, l started TO return. and by the
roadside came upon dying man, clad as a
confederate soldier. Imagine my surprise
to recognize i'll him a noted spy of our own
army. and also recognizing me- he informed
me that he had been wounded the night be-
fore by being fired upon by a party OF con-
tederate cavalry, and had ridden ON until
he could go no further. He knew he was
to die and entrusted 70 my care the papers
he had about him. watched over the poor
fellow until he died. and then, following
out a shallow grave.
Left him a,ou- i! lie glory
and proceeded on my way.
Il have little more to add. except that |
am major of cavalry in the United States
army. and wish that You will take my pr-
vatc papers from me- after | am dead, and
send them to an address | will give YOU
Now. this is ali ask, except that You will
send me pen and ink ny the orderly when
You return
Thus We parted. and findin. scout
awaiting me at my tent upon my return.
gave him pen, ink and paper. and ordered
him to ride over - the tent where the
doomed man was with them, and tell the
guard to release his hands OF the shackles
while he wrote. bur to keep close watch
upon him.
\ few minutes after ! was startled by a
loud shout. one. two. three shots in rapid /
and then the rapid rush of hovfs
by my quarters. was just i'll time to see !
the scouts horse dash by. and recognize. by |
the moonlight. the commanding form of |
Wilbur Hayes. the Union spy, in the saddle. !
Men mounted in hot haste, and chase |
but the daring soldier escaped. |
and thus saved himself from the death of Il |
spy.
Upon inquiry ! learned that when the !
manacles had been removed from his wrist.
Hayes, watching his opportunity, with two
rapid blows struck the guard and the scout !
TO the ground. and sYriuging lightly on the
back of the scouts horse, rode rapidly away
followed by the shots from the sentinels in
he immediate vicinitv.-ColoneI Pr,atiss
fuq'r,tuu icon teder0'i.