Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-07-11

il tenderness OF Affection cannot in this way leay
: earth, and, above all, suffer his mother
o mourn in uncertainty his fate. This dark hou
brings to his fond heart many memories of be
: love and devotion. In his anguish he long
s for her sympathy and comfort. He conclude
/: to send her parting message, and, begging
a scrap Of paper and the use Of lead penci
e still hand-cuffed and kneeling by the bench
S with only the Pickering light of candle, b
writes these works:
'GEoREToWN KY, July 27, 1864.
Ay Dearest Mother This is the last lette
L shall have the privilege of writing you. Oh
earth hath many hours of bitterness in stor
for all her children, but who can tell how hare
it is to watch and wait for the hour to com,
when the beating heart shall be suddenly
stopped, when the throbbing pulse shall b.
suddenly stilled by the report of musketry.
by the time you get this l will be in the
cold and silent tomb. Oh, mother [ would
like to see you but cannot; but l hope to meet
you in heaven.
at is now eleven o'clock Wednesday night
BY that time tomorrow will be shot. have
had no trial. There is man to be shot with
me: His name is
x
II must say farewell to you. [ hope we
will meet IN heaven. die innocent
| IIoGl YOUR UeVOteO son,
Slowly enough to the doomed men the hours
of the night drag through. A Southern sym
path!zer, under threats, is compelled to work
all night m preparing two rude collins for their
intended burial By sun-up they are COM
pleted, and when placed in an ambulance are
carried through the principal streets Of the
town In solemn prooession-a sight well ealeu
lated to impress with terror the hearts of un-
offending citizens and harmless women and
children.
AS the dawn began to appear, officer in COM
mand OF the squadron came into the room,
and as IT seeking to show By some act that his
feelings were not all dead, and that his heart
retained single spark of kindness, inquired
OF the captlves If they had any last request to
make?
| The younger answered: ssSir, if such thing
were possible, would like to see some minis
ter before dying The soldier sought from
the hotel-keeper the name and residence of
one, and was directed to the Presbyterian mia
| lister then in Georgetown. Rudely knocking
at his door, he demanded to see the preacher,
and, when informed that he was i'll, replied -
Tell him lmust see him."
The man expostulated at such call, and at
such an hour; but, when told that two Con-
federate soldiers were to be shot in a few mo
ments, and desired to see him, he ignored his
illness, and at once dressed and accompanied
the officer.
He was passed in On reaching the court
house between the double guard, TO the small
room where the boy and young man sat await
ing the hour of their death One now in
tears; the other calm, dauntless and dignifed,
even at this time. Taking each by his man
acled hand, with heart full Of pity and ten
der sympathy, in the gentlest and kindest
tones, he greeted them as only a friend could
have done, and, realizing his responsibility be-
fore God, inquired if they had made any prep
aration for their immediate death. They lis
tened as ouly dying men could listen while the
minister told them Ct Jesus and His love, and
urged them now to save Him for their advo-
cate and friend before God He implored
them to consider that it was not too late; that
Jesus could and would stand between them
and God the Father, and they had only to re-
celve the Son as their Saviour to have all their
sins blotted out and to secure their being this
day in Paradise with Him.
The time speeds away, and when warned
that he must CO. he asks them if he shall pray.
Adjusting their handouts and kneeling by his
side, they whisper over the words that ne ut
ters to God for their acceptance, and that they
may have strength given to endure the trial
before them in the coming hour. Audibly they
murmur his petitions, and in agony Of spirit |
seek with him the blessings he prays.
The trampliDg of the cavalry again reminds
them that the interview must end Arising
from their knees, the minister wishes to know
if there are any messages or tokens they will
now send to loved ones.
The younger hands him the letter, and, with
tears all dlmmlng his eyes, responds, Il have
written this to my mother send it to her
and gently break the news Of my death. y
But, sir, he said, ''can you tell me why
am to be shot?'' They tell me, " replied the
minister, that it is for retaliation. ''Ex-
plain this to my mother" he answered; ''and
this is all. y The elder and sterner said, Il
will tell you my name and father address, but
| request you never reveal to my family how
and why die let them remain In ignorance
OF my sad fate.
The summons is again given, the hour Of eZ-
ecution is at hand, and the minister rises to say
farewell Once more they clasp his hands and
beseech him to pray. Again they kneel and
once more they are committed to Gods mercy
and care. The minister rises and passes out
while they still remain III the attitude of prayer
The man of God hears the orders to march,
and trying to shut out the narrowing sounds
hurries away.
The prisoners are ordered into an ambu-
lance, the guard detailed to fire the fatal shot
file behind, while the squadron of cavalry close
up the procession.
To the cemetery On the hill overlooking the
beautiful town they are driven. In remote
corner beside two newly dug graves are placed
two plain wooden coffns. Their handouts are
removed, and standing each by his grave they
face their eXecutioners. The younger now
seems strong and shows DO trace of emotion.
His young heart fills with sorrow as he looks
upon the beautiful world and realizes he is
now to leave it forever Yet at the last he
bows submisslvely and yields to his DOOM
The other calmly and firmly walks to his grave,
and, without the culver of muscle or the
trembling of a nerve, with piercing glance
looks straight into the faces of the waiting
guard in front.
The words of command, MAKE ready, take
aim, fire !" ring out on the morning air. The
ten rifles are fired. The smoke clears away,
and the prisoners lie gasping on the sod One
groans, but in few seconds both are still in
death. The guard lift their lifeless bodies into
the rude cofins, they are hurriedly lowered in
to their graves, roughly the dirt is cast in, and
the cavalcade departs
The philosophic Mark Tapley, after under
going tedious voyage across the ocean, du-
ring which, the ship he was in was sorey buff
feted by wind and wave, and at times in dan
ger OF being lost thus expressed his feelings
ANY land willko for me after so much wa
ter" This is the feeling of the great mass Of
people who have been compelled for decade
to submit to Radical rule. They do not expect
at once to get all they want They know that
is impossible, and that by attempting to attain
lmpossibilities they will lose ALL They there
fore wisely moderate their desires and limit
off tn obi IL i r.