The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1872-01-18
WORLD.
DOOMED TO DIE.


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 him, and to
be ushered alone into the valley of the
shadow of death" A noble-looking man
he was as he stood there unmoved amid
the enemies that surrounded him, a
naughty, half-sad, half efantexpression
rested upon his handsome, daring face.
He was a Union spy, captured in
the Confederate lines, and bearing upon
his person reasonable papers sufficient
to have condemned regiment. He
had made good fight, but was at last
overpowered, the papers found upon him,
and, after aspeedy trial, was condemned
to die.
had formed one of the court.martial,
and though | knew that the crime of
being spy was punishable with death,
yet had | sought to have him spared.
I was young then, for it was the first
few months of our civil war, and | was
not as used to deeds of blood as | be-
came in after years; and, besides, the
spy was young and handsome, by his
department. evidently gentleman, and
his reckless bravery had won my admit
ration.
Night-fall came upon our camp, and
the following morning the spy was to
be called out and shot. had been APP
pointed to take charge of the execution,
and seated in my tent, was thinking
thinking of the unpleasant duty was
to perform on the morrow.
Lieutenant, note for you, sir"
| started as the orderly's voice broke
the stiffness of the night, and taking
the outstretched note, read:
Pardon me for disturbing your slumbers but
as you command the detachment that will to-
morrow usher my 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 respect.
WILBUR HAYES.
carefully read the note over twice,
and then said to the orderly:
"Say that will come"
A few moments later, and | stood in
the presence of the condemned man.
Mr.. Hayes, you sent for me?'
81 did, Lieutenant; and it was be-
cause of your kindness to me during
the trial, and also that | saw in your
eyes pity for my fate"
II do feel for you-from my heart |
do, and sincerely wish had not the I'M
pleasant duty devolving upon me of
ordering your execution tomorrow
II have favor to ask of you; to |
please order the guard to remove some
distance from the tent, as it is confes-
sion | wish to make"
| gave command to the guard to /
retire few PAGES, and returning to the
tent Hayes at once began:
81 am no spy, sir; but 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 to her of few days, | started
to return, and by the roadside came
upon dying man, clad as Confeder-
ate soldier. Imagine my surprise to
recognize in him noted spy of our
own Army, and also recognizing me,
he informed me that he had been wound
ed the night before, by being fired upon
by party of Confederate cavalry, and
had ridden on until he could go no
further. He knew he was TO die, and
entrusted to my care the papers he had
about him. | watched over the poor
fellow until he died, and then, following
out shallow grave,
"Let him alone in his glory"
and proceeded on my way
II have little more to add, except
that am Major of cavalry in the
United States Army, and wish that you
will take my private papers from me
after | am dead, and send them to an
address I will give you. Now this is
all / ask, except that you will send me
pen and ink by the orderly when you !
return"
Thus we parted, and finding a scout
awaiting me at my tent upon my return
gave him pen, ink and paper, and
ordered him to ride over to the tent
where the doomed man was with them,
and tell the guard to release his hands t
of the shackles while he wrote. but To S