South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1871-09-22
From the Sunday Telegram.
SHOT FOR DISCRETION
A Tale of the War.
By MRS. II. c. GOLDSMITH

that in view of the many assertions takipS
place almost daily, the army being strong.
ly pressed by the enemy aud battle i'm
minent, if every soldier was not found at
his post at the roll call, he would be con-
sidered deserter, aud shot when captured
But it was no use, human nature could
not endure it. After years absence and
hard fighting many excuses for furloughs
and rough times generally, our regiment
was ordered on a march that brought me
in sight of home-a home which contained
all that was dear to me-my darling wife
and child Oh, how my longing eyes were
strained in that direction. The house Law
Nesting in the moonbeams, its dark out
lines Swallowed against the distant sky. A
bright light twinkled from our chamber
window. Oh, what was it? Were its
beams to light my weary footsteps home
or like the Will-o-the-Wisp, lure to de,
struction
i knew that We were surrounded by the
enemy, aud battle impending on the NOR
row. We gently bivouacked on the out
skirts of a wood, whilst, the tents of tho
enemy, like small embankments of snow.
dotted the valley beneath but alas be.
tween myself and my home, which stood
on the hill beyond.
My soul was filled with terrible appre-
tensions my mind depicted all kinds IF
horrors. Leila sick in want, perhaps dy-
ing, or worse still, in danger from the enc.
my whose depredatiops were source of a.
larm throughout the country. These har
rowing thoughts drove me mad, and scarce.
! ly KNOWING how but with all the cunning
of the maniac, / stole through the lines of
pickets, thinking only 10 take one look, to
feel once more the tender kisses of those
dear to rue on my lips 10 a word, to as
sure mysel! that all were safe, and that my
late imaginings were but feverish dreams,
and the ere dawn of day, return to duty.
But alas | found, but too sadly, as nv
fears had depicted that want and sickness did
indeed dwell in my once happy home |
gazed, as in n trance, on my wife pale and
emacated bending over our darling child,
sick unto death, vaiDly endeavorng to force
into his feverish mouth "A little corn cruel
tine only article of food our enemies bad
left them. Ga God how the sight froze
my blood Fortunately, | carried 10 my
knapsack few rations. Something was
speedily prepared for the little sufferer,
but all too late. As the morning broke
he died.
He died, cried my poor wife, as she fell
exhausted into my arms, for the want of
proper nourishmcnt. Never can | forget
that sad sight. My poor boy lying dead
before me my wife pale and worn to a
shallow, lying almost ifeIess by his side
Whilst | contemplated with grief too deep
for utterance, this sad spectacle, forgetting
IN my anguish my own situation, the sun,
IN oil his splendor, broke over the sad
earth, cursed by all the horrors of civil war
and by deeds Of bloodshed and cruelties that
would cause the very heavens to weep, when
the sound OF battle broke on the stilln Of
the morning air Here | was, absent from
duty
bad forfeited my life knew, but what
was TINT to me ; fate had done its worst.
Although heart broken myself, took my
dear wife into my arms, and even then, IN
der such narrowing circumstances, tried TO
breathe hope into her heart but she, like
Rachel weeping for her children, would not
be comtorted.' She clasped our dead child
into her arms, exhibiting all the agony of
mothers grief She felt no fears for me,
not knowing under what circumstances
had visited her. In her present troubles
could not add this knowledge to overwhclm
her still further | knew that by this timc
! bad been missed, and 1, of course, felt
all the shame a brave soldier must feel who
has deserted his post in the hour Of danger,
Tor had taken up arms when the first a.
larm was sounded, in defence Of my couu-
try, aud | had done my duty faithfully.
But duty now, even more imperative than
that owed my country, awaited inc here
'We must bury our dead out Of our
sight Oh the agony Of digging a grave
with my own hands to bury forever from
my gaze this precious child around whom
SO many fond hopes had clustered about
whom so many dreams had been INDUCED.
l stole to the garden and chose a spot un-
der dropping white rose 10 bury my treas
ure. bad scarcely upturncd the first
handful OF earth, when heavy hand was
Iaid upon my shoulder, and the words were
shouted into my ear, j arrest you rs a de-.
serter, The spade fell from my hand,
ana withou; q word Of complaint, or a fare
well TO my wife, lfor / wished even then
70 spare her this new aflicton,) / took my
place between two armed soldiers, and with
my brain on FIRE, aud my heart torn with
anguish was marched into camp
Leila waited IN r', suspense. hour
after hour for her bl5bana return, but be
came NOT. Where could he bel lie had
LEFT her in the early morn 70 prepare a
grave for their child Surely something
has happened. So with apprehensions
made keen by suffering, sho wandered
iorth, aud soon made her way 10 the camp,