News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-11-12
RETRIEVED TOO LATE.
SOME OF THE HORRORS OF OUR LATB
CIVIL WAR.
A Little story of the war. Told by az
Ex-Rebel:


A Little story of the War. Told by q,
Ex-Rebel:
When the Confederate army-or al
least one of 'em-lay at Dalton, this be
ing in the winter of 1864, there were
many assertions from the rank and file.
While it was at all times true of tbs
Confederate soldier that he did not fee
the, bonds of enlistment holding him as
tightly as the Union soldier did
the number of absentees at THU
time was really appalling. It wa;
time when everything felt blue
We were ragged, half-fed, half armed
and could see nothing hopeful in the
spring campaign.
During December and January little
attention was given to the matter of alb
sentees, as it was known that most OF
them intended to return after a brief visit
to their families, but when February
came the rein began to tighten. 1t was
not long before a general order was is
sued to the effect that future deserters
must expect the full penalty provided in
army regulations. This was check suf-
fcient on the great majority, but out
and-out assertions continued to occur.
One night, when | was sergeant of a
picket post well advanced towards the
Union lines, instructions were received
to keep sharp watch for deserters. Not
more than an hour later we made cap
ture. A boy about Is years old, pri.
vate in Georgia regiment, had left
camp with the intention of visiting his
home, which was then inside the Union
lines. He was not over. bright, and
when brought in by picket he seemed
to look upon the matter as a joke. 1t
was only when he had been escorted to
camp and put under guard, charged
with trying to desert to the enemy, that
he seemed to realize the gravity of his
situation.
A court-martial made short work OF
his case. The only defense he set up
was that he was homesick and wanted
to see his mother, and that he surely
meant to return that same week. There
might have been something in this APP
peal had he not admitted that he knew
his home to be within the Union lines,
and that there was strong probability
of his being captured by the Federals.
From the hour he was sentenced to be
shot he was placed under my charge.
think it was about week from the find
ing of the court-malt ial to the day OF
his execution. For the first two or three
days the boy was like one struck dumb,
and he answered no questions. When
this state of mind wore off he spent
most of his time in weeping, praying
and writing letters. 1t was only on the
night before his execution that he be-
came laxative. As l carried him his
supper he asked:
"sergeant, did you ever see deserter
shot2"
eyes"
elbow was it donew
'By file of men. Six of my squad
have been detailed In your case"
"Will they blindfold mep'
eyes"
evil 1 stand up2"
mo; you will be seated on your
eofin.''
He spoke with more curiosity thar
concern, and was glad to see it. Sc
long as he had to die it was better tc
show q brave front. 1 sought to en-.
courage him in this, but he replied:
ooh, you needn't be afraid of my
breaking down. All ask of you is te
make quick work of it."
Next morning when he was marched
out the air was raw and the sky a.
gloomy as pail When l brought hin
out he was the cooler of the two. was
nervous and trembling, while he wa
absolutely cool and self possessed.
T. H. T ~,
eyes"
"Well, am ready"
elbow do you feelY"
'I'm all right"
When we reached the grounds which
had been selected l saw that about 9, 00(
men had been marched up to witness
the execution. The boy looked about
him with considerable curiosity, but
showed n. no signs ign q. weakness lln easls7e .oMs
resting in front of II, he caught quick
breath, and something like terror could
be read in his eyes.
/ stood there with him while the fir.
ing party retreated few PAGES and
came to a "front" Then an officer
came forward and read the charge and
the findings. All this time l had hold
of the boys hand, we standing shoulder
to shoulder. There was no trembling,
to blister mine.
When the officer had finished reading
he stepped away, leaving us alone.
81 must blindfold you," said, as
produced handkerchief.
eyes"
"You are going to die like brave
man."
81 told you 1 would.
placed the handkerchief over his eyes
and tied the ends at the back of his
head, and then taking his arm, whis.
pered
"You must sit down"
eyes"
81 am going now"
Goodbye to you, Sergeant. Let il
be over soonW
When l had reached the squad there
was nothing to wait for, and the orders
were issued
'Readyw
"Aimp
The command "fre" was just trem-
bling on my lips when an officer waiv-
ing a white handkerchief appeared be-
hind the prisoner. l ascertained, at q
later date, that none of the muskets
were loaded, but this fact was not even
known to the firing squad.
The prisoner had been reprieved.
advanced and broke the glad news to
him, and then removed the bandage
from his eyes and assisted him to rise.
Great Heaven, but what change
He had smile on his face-the grin OF
an idiot The light of intelligence had
gone out of his eyes, and his first move
ment was to spring up, flop his arms,
and crow like roosterl From that
moment until he was finally discharged
and sent home, no man heard an intelli-
gent word from his lips, nor saw any
thing like intelligence in his face. He
was not crazy, but idiotic. That one
minute of awful suspense had drowned
out the light of reason, and so changed
his every look that hiAcAA -
could not have identified hin. NDstroai
Free Press.
CahhaOa for Wintar TTSa