Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-04-03

this a on duty, had supplied his
place without troubling themselves
about the why and wherefore; the post
became in consequence q permanent
institution, and a sentry guards the
wall to this day.
The morning on which I was on
guard was exceedingly cold and frosty.
The moo shone brightly, throwing
the dark shadow Of the adjoining Of
icers' quarters halfway across the
parade ground in front. In tho valley
beneath / could see distinctly every
gable and chimney OF the house of the
old. fashioned town that nestled so
costly in the hollow between the pre-
cipitous cliffs. The moon was reflected
brightly in the ocean to the south, and
by its light l could even see the glitter
ing bayonet Of the sentry who guarded
the government stores on the pier, a
mile distant. Our gallant soldiers on
duty, however, have but little regard
for the picturesque; and like most men
similarly situated, l was wearying for
the termination of my two hours vigil,
and little inclined to admire the sur
rounding scenery. At length the clock
struck three; and l was at once filled
with a CHEEKY feeling of satisfac-
ton at the immediate prospect Of be-
ing relieved, and Of returning to the
warm guard-room and drinking a cup
Of hot coffee before turning off to
sleep.
l heard the sentry on the gate Justify
shout Sentry go!" as a summons for
the relief to turn out; and just as ]
was preparing to take a last turn on
my post, / perceived. at the extremity
of the shadow cast by the officers quar-
ters, a ghostly figure in a long white
robe, bearing in its hand a drawn
sword. l endeavored to shout for as
sistance, but was so ''harrowed with
fear and wonder" that l was unable
TO a~rticulate a single word, but stood
perfectly transflxed staring at the ap-
partition. 1t moved slowly past me;
but when it turned roand and raised
its disengaged hand to its white head
covering, as il in salute, its aspect so
filed me with terror that being, of a
nervou temperament, l fell to the
ground, and only recovered conscious
ness when,a minute or two afterwards,
l was vigorously shaken up by the
sergeant of the guard.
That non.commissioned officer, along
with the men of the relief, laughed
heartily when I described the fright l
had received, and remarked that |
had been dreaming. The sergeant,
however, performed the duty required
Of him by the rules Of discipline in a
most memorable fashion. He de-
prived me of my arms and belts, and
confined me in the prisoners quarters
in the guard room.
Next day l was taken before the
commanding officer, a hot-headed
Welshman, whom l shall call Colonel
Morgan, charged with having been
asleep on my post. To him l related
particulars of the mysterious figure l
had seen; but my statement,
instead of proving a satisfactory
excuse for my offence, as l
hoped it would, threw the worthy col
onel into a state of great indignation,
and he at once RENTED me for trial
by court-martial.
On the third day after thei,sitting of
the court, | was informed that my sem
tence would be promulgated at fore
noon parade. With a sinking heart. l
heard the assembly" sounded, then
the 'fall i'm; and shortly afterwards
the band played merrily, as if in mock
cry of my agitation.
Escorted by a file of the guard, l
marched to the centre of tho hollow
square into which the regiment had
been formed; and the adjutant read
out my sentence, which was that l
should be imprisoned with hard labor
for a period of ~eighty-four days. Ap-
pended to the confirmation of the pro.
ceedings of the court martial by the
general commanding the district was
a note to the following effect: "Con-
sidering the nature OF the prisoners
defence, which was calculated to excite
an uneasy feeling among the men of
his regiment, l consider the punish
ment inflicted quite inadequate to the
enormity Of his offence"
The next day l was escorted, hand
cuffed, to a military prison abou: six
miles distant, where, after having been
medically examined and weighed, l
was introduced to a most select assem-
blage of erring brethren of the sword,
WHO woIo engaged ;a The ezhilsrstinS
occupation of picking oakum, alter.
mated with the agreeable muscular
exercise of 'shot" drill.
The humiliating and degrading
situation in which 1 found myself,