The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1882-03-30
Sketches of Army Life.
,5ENRER THIRTEEN.


We may have much sympathy for the weary
soldier. who in the darkness of the night, falls
asleep upon his picket post, and death for
such an otfense may appear to be a severe pen
atty, but when we remember that his hours of
sleep may have allowed death to visit his COM
rades and defeat to overtake an entire army. we
understand why such severe penalties are i'll
tlicted. But when the crime is dcsertion. there
can be but little sympathy for the offender, es
pecially if he has enlisted for the bounty receiy-
ed, with the intention of deserving at the first
opportunity. Where the case has been aggra-
waited by several enlistments, bounties, and de
sertions. the offender justly forfeits all claims
upon human sympathy. And yet. after all. I'M
der the most aggravating circumstances, it is Il .
very solemn thing to see human beings led forth
to be shot like dogs and those who witness such
scenes receive an impression that can never be
shaken off.
In the month of August, 1868, while our reg-
ment w9s encamped near Beverly Ford, on the
Rappahannock river, a report was circulated
through our corps that five dcserters had been
arrested, Were being tried by court martial,
AID would probably be found guilty and be
executed. This caused quite ripple of eX-
citement in camp. Years before we had read
of deserters being shot, and our boyi>h hearts
had been thrilled with the vivid descriptions
given; but we had never witnessed such spec
tacle. We had seen death in almost every form,
but this was something new
The court martial found the dcSertcrs guilty.
and sentenced them all to be shot. and the 29th
of August was the day when the sentence of
death was to be carried into execution. Tho
whole Fifth corps was to witness the spectacle.
The regiments were massed in columns by divi-
sionS around hollow square. The lines We're
so formed that nearly every man in the corps
could obtain view Of the whole situation. The
lines We're all formed. and for some moments
we waited for the arrival of the solemn process
sion. 1t soon made t. appearance and while
the description of it may not impress my read
ers with much force. can assure them that if
made Il deep and lasting impression upon the
minds of those who witnessed it. Every detail
had evidently been arranged for the special OBJ
jrct Of making solemn impression upon the in
terested spectators. Lctu> foramoment imagine
the scene. A broad level field: the old Fifth
corps with its bronzed veterans and tattrrrd
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