Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-06-03
A MILITARY EXECUTION.

In 1870 my battalion was ordered to
Autun to take battery Of artillery from
that place to the battlehelds Of Pasque
struggling with General Won Werder.
Having left Bligny-sur- Ouche, o town
Of thousand inhabitants, near Beaune,
we were en- route to the scene Of the con-
fict, following the valley, narrow pass
on either side Of which was q wood and
through which river ran. Il was the
Goth Of November. The atmosphere was
damp and the ways were muddy. Now
and then the sound of distant cannon
aiding was heard. On arriving at Pont-
d'Ouche, where it was necessary to
pause Tor q while, the column had hard
" halted when the fugitives from Van
denesse gathered about as. Garibaldian
soldiers, in their uniforms with galoons
on the seams; sharpshooters, guides,
thus they presented themselves, tur-
bulent throng of red shirts. AZ last the
chief of staff, Colonel Bordone, appeared
Of the Seventh Light Cavalry.
He told MS that IL was necessary for
rs to protect the retreat. This we pro-
ceeded to do, and ere nightfall we had re-
turned to Bligny-sur. Ouche.
While traversing the streets, encum.
bered with pieces of artillery, carts and
soldiers on duty, / encountered the chief
of the auxiliary squadron, commanding
the artillery OF the army Of the Vosges.
''Do you understand" he said. ssthe
decree Of Tours concerning courts mar
tial ?"
eyes, commandment, answered.
"Have you ever taken part In trial
by court martial ?"
''No, but"
81 name you clerk Of the court mar
tial which is 10 sit this evening. Come,
let us take glass Of wine and arrange
matters.
We entered cafe. The affair in ques-
ton concerned two soldiers who were
accused of marauding under arms. They
were volunteers belonging to the AL
gerian phalanx, q band composed Of men
of various nationalities. One was
Hungarian; the other was q man named
Mignot, from Beauvais.
At the request of the commandment ]
stated the terms Of the decree governing
courts martial.
'sIn the first place" / said, ssthe de-
cree calls for q chief Of battalion as
president Of the Court"
ssThat win be myself"
ssThen there must be two captains.
The commandant named two cap
tains.
'sThere must be one sub-lieutenant 50
The commandant turned 10 an officer
who was sitting ct table on his left
and said
ssThat viii be You.
Having chosen the judges the COM
mandank told me 10 find . place In which
10 hold the court
ssBut where are the accused 2"
'sBy my faith do not know. Find
them"
went il search Of them.
It had commenced 20 snow. After
having wandered about the village. which
the war had thrown into complete dis
order. L found In O barn the prisoners
and their guards, all Of whom had been
drinking. I had them transferred 10
the Cuardhouse and went 10 secure 8
place In which to hold the court martial.
The Office 81 the Justice Of the Peace I
Thought ought to serve onr purpose. Il
contained 8 long table, covered with
black cloth, and two smaller tables, one
On the right and the other On the left.
On The wall was & crucifx. Nothing
seemed to be wanting.
At eight o'clock the president opened
Che court. The affair had already been
noised about the village and the room
back Of the railing was crowded with
soldiers and peasants. many 0E The latter
being women. The scene was nt once
terrible and grotesque. There Was but
two candlesdcka lad improvised
others from large potatoes. cut Ia halves.
q which had placed candles
The two accused men were brought
IA. Mignot, who was ! handsome young
fellow. biz and brown. wnn completely
intoxicatsd. His comrade was only par-
tally fnabxiated. The testimony wns
then taken. Tt showed that during The