The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-11-02

Will ttHucTect 1utttlon anu love- WA
sick, very sick: must die If he wishe,
OF desired TO again see and embrace hel
in this life he must not delay.
Poor woman She little knew 70 whaf
she was tempting him Little knew that
the fetters that bound the soldier. forces
him TO smother every domestic tie, every
feeling of love and affection, every
thought of subordinating every
thing to present. duty in the field. That
if he, without leave, broke military rule,
especially in the presence of the enemy,
a certain fate, an inevitable doom, await
ed him This he knew. though she did
not
Frenzied with the desire TO see his
daughter-the child of his affection-he
burst through all restraints and left camp,
without leave or asking or seeking il. as a
hopeless chance.
fastening across the Blue Ridge and
the valley, he sought his mountain home,
amid the spurs of the Allegheny, intend
ing 70 tarry but few days, to receive the
last embrace Of his daughter, and then,
with all speed Of his safe return to and
report for duty
The fates were against him. His lit
tie daughter. child of eight, died in his
arms upon the third day of his return.
Without delay, after the last rites had
been given and the green sod hid the
mortal remains of his little loved one, he
hastily babe mis- wife farewell and sped
upon his retlrn.
A change of position had taken place
in the enenly's forces, and now interpos-
ell between him and his command.
Fatigue and trouble had told upon
his system, and he was almost totally
broken down bodily.
Finding it impossible to get TO his
command without risk of certain capture
and weary months in northern prison
in his physical condition certain death
he turned his weary steps to his noun
tain home, where he became prostrated
with his life nemy-consumption.
Thus passed many weeks. A raidine
party of our cavalry had scooped around
the enemy's line and gotten in their rear
This party finding him at h1me, absent
without leave, took him into custody as
weak as he was, and brought him into
our camp as deserter.
His wife, true to her love and atfec-
ton, hesitated not moment to follow
after, passing unmolested and in safety
the lines of the enemy.
He was brought 20 trial upon the
charge of deserting the ranks in the pres
ence of the enemy, found guilty and SEN
fenced to be shot on the third day there
after Absenting without leave had be-
come too eommon-the ranks were too
thinned thereby. II must be stopped.
Examples by military executions became
an important military necessity. Fate
had placed the chance upon him.
The Commanding General, as much
as he might otherwise feel, felt the neces-
sity of this situation, and sternly repress-
ed every feeling, approved the sentence,
unmoved by the prayers and tears of the
loving. but diseonsolate wife.
One hope only remained open to her
an appeal 10 the Confederate President,
JEFF Davis This glimmering hope she
eagerly embraced, and at once started on
foot to the railroad station at Orange
Court House for Richmond, TO seek from
him, who could alone interpose with
mercy and pardon.
. Reaching Richmond, she sought at
once without delay the President. By
her tenderly, affecting, earnest and NOV
ing appeal, the heart OF the stern man
was touched with sympaty. He hastily
signed the pardon and bade hers hearty
God-speed, as she poured out prayers and
blessings upon his head. Better aequaint-
ed with the urgency of haste in all mill
tary matters, and especially in such cases,
he also dispatched special courier with
a duplicate to our camp.
Boys, often had to do duty at the
Grand Tent, and was. therefore frequent
ly brought in contact and intercourse
with the poor fellow. | tell you, he was
Il brave mainland better, good Christ
ian, if soldier can be one amid such sur
roundings and staii cuissednes,' as mil
itary camp, Debilitated Us he was bodily
and suffering. he faced the situation IN
which he WAS placed with a firm. uncom-
planning stoicism rs only brave man
and true Christian can.
q No repining, no complaint, no muir
muring was shown, but the fortitude Of a
true manhood was ever present. True,
he expressed the wish that death might
have come to him in the battlefield, and
at the hands of the enemy rather than at
the hands of his comrades. He calmly
read his bible and trusted in the mercy
of God, and the otherwise pure record Of
a Just life towards his fellows. 80 passed
the three days
The fatal hour came. and "a yet no
wife's return-no pardon, no reprieve of
sentence.
The entire force was ordered out to wit
ness military execution Some little dis
lance below the church, in an open field,
they were marched and formed into a
hollow square facing dnwards. Al the
farther and lower end of the square. near
the centre of that side. a stake was driy-
en- firmly into the ground. An ambu-
lance and guard slowly move in the di-
rection of the Guard Tent. At word of
command. thirteen detailed nieh wheel
from each side of the stake, march to
where thirteen muskets are stake,i-load-
ed, six with blank and seven with bail
cartridge Each pick at random gun.
Twelve slowly in line take position ten
PAGES in front of the stake-one, the re-
serve, in the rear Of them.
"Ohi now blanched was the face of
each of these stern men, compelled, by
military ordeal, to carry out the order and
take the life of comride in cold blood
They. humored and unfiinchingly. and
without feeling, could have stormed the
most deadly breach, or the most inasssil-
able and perilous position, but this was
very, very different. The silence of the
line and its surrounding was awful in its