The National tribune., 1880-07-01

mnsterro and restore restoration TO duty Some quickly
the absoutony except -te sergeant the leader the
prime mover and champion of the affair
He scorned forgiveness it implied acknowledge
ment of guilt lie woud stand by the deed whatever
the law called it, he held it just resistance to tyranny
He had sought mans life. Hehad felt We cannot
live together therefore, do thou go thy way and will
mine " and he had simply said sog If that crime,
he could not help it, No matter IL thousand
cowards he had not the blood of poroon in his veins
He should promise-toucl his hat and, bowing low
beg to have his name botted out Of tla list His soul
revoted at it, would live and die by that solemn pro
test against the authority of doineerng coward and in
competent cominander.
SO the law tooIshim and tried him beforea general
cournartia found him guilty and sentenced him to
be shot Death The general approved the nding and
sentence of the count and theday and honr ofe
tion were axed in an order thatwas read on certain
evening at dress parade each regiment of hedvsion
And with the words of that order the whole
command Mg
The law was nexorable and the court had no alterna
tive Being guilty this was the punishment prescribed
without that saving clause which puts the offender the
mercy Of the cout-or such otierApunishment as the
court may Direct But did be deserve death? Not
man in all the command believed it, The men knew it
the letter Of the law that Staying him but how
to invoke its spirit and whether the spirit could him
if it would sorely puzzled them. They satisfied that
he should be punished but by something less severe and
rrevocable than DEATH bsttl3E HaI 9AuHEi9A pna
With what crushing weight the thought came heme to
their hearts that good soldier true patriot was 70 be
shot for techncality at the eud of long through
which he had faithfully served How they talked about
that lonesome weary WIFE and her eager ana expectant
children away at the North watching with bated breath
mail that to-day,
bring her the of the final discharge of the Second
Cavalry Who could hold pen to write the other
its stead9 Who could send home to her the picture of
her sweet face with the curl of babys hair the
glass, as he had next his heart many years
through al danger by food aud field and write the words
This, with his undying love- he bade me send yonhis
Did ever the reluctant days drag to such hope
less, bootless doom 6Slg sfse n @s.F
striking for his country IL only he had been slain on
the picket lines plotting the grand old army to victory
If he could have died in the hospital slowly wasted
by incnrable wounds disease If only in any way his
blood might have been reckoned part of the price
paid for liberty and free government. ssiasr 8
But no7-none of these. The very record of his devo
ton to his counrys cause and of his faithful years of
untiring service to be botted out His memory
to be backened forever and his name become legacy
of shame to his children and yet they knew he con-
scious of no crime la4s s95s tst a4 835as 4l 81
Was itpossible to save him in any wayg Could he be
partoned or his sentence be committed Yes but only
man could do t-the General Would he do it9 Only
in all the command could ask it and hope to be
heard the Lieutenant Colonel Would he do it 1
The days of respite passed rapidly and the anxiety and
sympathy for the doomed constantly increased in
cumulative ratio At last the Indispensable arrived
at division headquarters with Petition for Pardon
and asked the staff to sign it, Every valid that
could be found urged and be went away with all
names He Jared the at the brigade
and by the he reached the commanders of regiments
who all signed it. the report had reoiced the hearts of
every tent-squad in the whole division They kaen it
would be granted-the General could not avoid it he
wouldn't dare to shoot him in the aceo that list of names
There was threat OF lurking in every express
Armed with the petition the Lieutenant Colonel went
to the General aud gathering up all the eoquence of all
the arguments laid the before him. He would con
slider the matter and the Lieutenant Colonel was dis
missed. @ bf 5a @ sf a
A day passed by wthonta answer Another and still
no reply The thrd--some anxiety was manifested The
fourt-the socitude increased On the fifth day the old
fear seized them. The sixth--not word spoken-to-
morrow ''between the hours of and twelve O'clock
-.' They lay in squads, scattered through the
camps, talking until late into the night caring
Sleep and the reee seemed break in upon their first
nap
throughout the camps, the neghng of the horses and
the of the calling back and forth they ssag
gled in each to his Once they drank
their coffee and ate their hardbread and bacon grum
blingy denouncing the shortcomings of the c0ssariqt
they wondered if it yet possible for the General TO
speak.
Eight clock -sok call. The orderies reported their
latest candidates, the surgeons prescribed the hospital
stewards provided for them; and the sick lying
their in anguish turned inquire of their neigh
hors il the word had vet been spoken.