Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-11
A Tragedy of the war.

During the siege of Atlanta the militia
frequently did guard duty on the streets.
In one of the companies thus engaged
was handsome, manly boy Of l6. Young
Norton enjOved the novelty of military
life. He had been a clerk in store until
the siege, and it was recreation to him
To patrol the streets with a musket on his
shoulder, Aalting every passer by with
the stereotyped demand; "Show your
pass"
Norton was not typical good boy, but
he was as good as the average. He was
bright, quick, moral and had the making
of good man of business in him. Every
body liked him. There was one bad streak
in his composition, says the Atlanta Con
StitHtiOR, and il lead to his ruin. From
childhood he took delight in torturing
helpless beasts and birds. AS he grew
older he would listen by the hour with an
eager face to the tales OF butchery and
blOodshed told by his soldier friends. Tie
developed n fondness for pistols and bowie
knives, and soon became a walking ar
senal. He frequently lamented his
youth, and expressed the hope that the
war would last long enough TO enable him
to kill a few Yankees. This wish was not
gratiied, but he found what he thirsted
fOr-human blood.
One bright night, when full moon rode
high in the heavens, Norton was ordered
10 carry Confederate teamster to the
guard tent. The boy seized mis- prisoner
with alacrity and told him to walk in
front of him down the railroad track. The
teamster, a hne-lOOking young man,
obeyed with a cheerful laugh, and on the
way fell into conversation with his
guard. He told him that he was a Ten
nesseean. He had fought through the
war. and was then for the first time under
arrest. His Oflense was trltfling. His
mules were starving, and ne had stolen
sack OF government corn and fed them.
Then he said seriously:
Il wouldn't see my mules starve. you
know, but | can't stand being arrested
for stealing. If my wife and children hear
of it their hearts would break. If you
will let me give you the slip | will get
back TO my company and the trouble
will be over. The fellows who arrested
me don't know my name, and they
wouldn't know my face again. If make
a run tor It don't shoot"
To his appeals Norton turned a DEAF
ear.
''If you run Pn kill YOU" was all he
said.
''That's the right talk" replied the pris-
oner, pleasantly, ''shOOt if you want to-,
but take care to miss your mark"
II Kill yOus' ulubbEItU NOfIOUs
If the teamster had turned TO look at
his guard in the moonlight be would have
seen the face of demon. The dominant
craze for blood had taken complete pos
session of the boy. Slyly he cooked his
musket and held it with both hands in
front OF him. At last he was to have a
chance to Kill man. He watched his vic
tim with the eyes of hawk.
The two came TO lonely spot. The op
portunity was favorable and the teamster
suddenly made spring forward and ran
off at rapid pace. Norton instantly lev
eled his musket, took deliberate ann at the
fugitive's back and fired.
The boy knelt down by the dead body
He turned the corpse over and convinced
himself that his bullet had done its work
thoroughly. When he rose there was
blood on his hands and on his garments
He made no effort to wipe il off, but with
a flush on his cheek and an exultant
CLEAN in his eyes, hurried back to head
quarters.
''Killed him, you sayY" said the militia
Captain. with dazed look, 81 don't be-
Eeye it."
But" said the boy, eagerly, II know
he is dead. | turned him over. He's as
dead as a door nail. He tried to run and
/ shot him."
git"
"Do whatY"
"Git. This amt any place for you.
When boys kill good soldiers because
they take little truck for their mules, It's
time for him 10 hide out"
martial law made it my duty" said
Norton, with a flourish.
martial law be BANKED" growled the
Captain.
D. .Lfa .sv,o o.L... -. ,
around, and the Captains opinion seemed
To be general. Norton began to feel seri-
Ously alarmed, and yet he felt indignant
at Icing reproved for doing his duty. He
quietly made his way home. IL was not
considered safe for him TO remain there.
and he was provided with other quar-
ters.
He was not a moment too soon in Sc
creting himself. The next day hundreds
Of Tennesseeans secured the city for him.
Some Of the men carried ropes. They
swore they would hang the boy like dog.
These men justified their comrade in tax
ing government corn TO feed his mules. 1t
seemed 10 them a cOld-blOoded crime for a
good soldier 10 be killed Tor such trifle
by mere boy who had done nothing for
his country. Norton remained securely
concealed until the siege was over.
After sherman entered the city Norton
vent red out. He had a hangdog look.
HIS eyes were wild, and he had way Of
stopping with jerk every few minutes
and looking behind him. Every time he
met an old acquaintance he would refer 10
the shooting OF the teamster, and ask for
an opinion. Generally, the verdict was
against him, and ne gradually gave him
self up 20 gloom and remOrse.
Several years after the war Norton re-
appeared In Atlanta. He was the shadow
of his former self, and his pallid face WAS
recognized by only a few. There was one
peculiarly about him. He seemed 20
regulate his pace by that Of some invisl-
BILE person in frOntOi him. Sometimes he
held both hands In front after the fashion
OF hunter holding a gun and creeping
upon his prey. Again, he would cast
frightened glances over his shoulder and
walk with all his speed.
The fellow became a complete wreck.
He went TO the bad. Later he was beard
from IN distant part Of the State, and
} ben in North Carolina. He never at
tempted TO regain his old position among
Business men. He went downward In
the scale until be lived with outlaws and
moonshiners. Finally be died with his
boots on. The miserable wretch probably
never enjoyed a moments pleasure after
firing the fatal shot. RemOrse gnawed at
his Yitals from FIRST 10 last. He came
very near being a frst-cl8ss murderer,
5ut there was something wanting. Even
as criminal he must be put down as a
failure.
TINE receipts Of fAxseed in Chicago last