Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-04-08
Chamberts journal.

NhAhi"Nit2 """i"t'i'
"Prisoner have you any objections
to be tried by me as President or by
any member % this court-martial2'
asked the field officer who had been
detailed for the duty Of presiding over
the court
mo sir,n / answered; for it was
my most unenviable situation that
morning 10 be brought TO the court
room for triei, having been put back"
by my commanding officer a few days
before on charge OF having been
asleep on my post while on sentry
an offensive characterize in my in
dictment as conduct in prejudice to
good order and military discipline.
The members composing the court
were then sworn, and the trial pro-
ceeded IN the cumbrous fashion pc
culiar to military tribunals, the Pres
ident laboriously writing down every
word of the evidence asst was uttered.
The Sergeant who had been IN charge
OF the guard at the time of my alleged
offence was the principal witness
against me. and he began to describe,
with grotesquelly ungramatical vol
utility, how he had found me stretch
ed on the ground asleep but was at
once pulled up short by the Presi-
dent, who ordered him 10 say what
he had TO say in rs few words as pos
sible.
"Was the prisoner sober" asked
one of the officers when the Sergeant
had finished his evidence.
Quite sober, sir, replied the man
OF STRIPES
The man who composed the relief
having corroborated the Sergeants
statement, 1 was called upon for my
defensc
/ therefore Aarrated that shortly
before my two hours on daty had ex-
pred, | saw q white figure carrying a
drawn sword pass close to my post !;
and that, being OF a nervous, excit-
able temperament, ] was so frighten-
that ! fell to the ground in an uncon
sclouS state, and only recovered when
was reused by the Sergeant of the
guard.
prisoner, - remarked the President,
in my twenty years experience in
the army | have served upon unmor
GUS courts-martial, and have heard all
kinds of ingenious detenses put for
ward by men in your present pasltion
in excuse Of the oiienses with which
they were charged but your lire OF
defense is the most remarkable that
has come under my observation.
Who, do You think. will credit story
OF that deScripton3 Assuredly not |.
fAN ~ ~ 81
the Major in kindly tone. II must
advise you that your action in submit
ting to the court statement OF that
description rs extremely iniudicious
You will do yourself a positive injury
by preserving in II, not only with re-
gard to the probable extent of your
punishment, but also to your reputa-
ton as soldier. II Will be far better
for you simply to own that you were
asleep. You are a young man who
has served but six months In the regi-
ment; SO, under the circumstance.
assuming that you adopt my Sugges-
ton which is aSsuredly meant for your
good, the court may think fit. conSis-
tently with the duty demanded Of it
by the hard and fast requirements Of
military law, TO recommend much
lighter sentence of Imprisonment than
woulu be administered to an older
and more experienced memeer of the
service.
"a can only tell the truth, sir. l
urged,
"1hat then, is your defense - that
you were frightened by the figure you
sawl' asked the officer in tone Of
veXstiou.
THAT is my defense, sir" re
Piled
Very we'll, said the President
writing down my statement Escort.
remove the prisoner. Stopl About
his characterl Call the captain OF his
company
My captain, answering the sum
nous stated that my conduct had
been most exemplary, after which
received the commands Left turn,
quick march r. and was removed to
the guard-room and the members OF
the court-martial began their dehbera
tons on the duration OF the period OF
Imprisonment they meant 20 admins
ter 20 me
/ shall now relate the facts in con
uecuou with the appearance of the
figure before alluded 10. a.
o'cl0cG ON the morning Of my arrest,
was posted on sentry IN front OF 8
wall which had been buyt on the face
OF cliff overnauging the beSch Why
that particular spot required guarding
when any attempt ON the part or S
soldier 70 break ont o. barracks would
be equivalent to committing suicide,
as the rock had sheer uubrokeu de
scent Of $50 feet, was a matter OF puE
2lug speculation TO the men OF all the
regiments which in turn occupied the
quarters refer to- 4 tradition, how
ever, which was related TO me by an