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

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to leave the town in order to embark
for India, place sentry on the spot
| in order to prevent his men from
throwing over the cliff the rubbish
| that accumulates in changing quar-
tiers; and The relieving regiment find
ing this man on duty, had supplied
his place without troubling themselves
about the why and wherefore; the
post became in consequence a per
manent institution, and sentry
guards the wall TO this day.
The next morning on which | was
on guard was exceedingly cold and
frosty. The moon shone brightly,
| throwing the dark shadow Of the adj
| joining officers quarters half way
across the parade ground in front. In
valley beneath / could sec distinctly
every gable and chimney of the houses
of the old-fashioned town that nestled
so costly in the hollow between the
precipitous cliffs. The moon was re-
| Elected brightly in the ocean to the
south, and by its light could even
see the slittering bayonet Of the SEN
| try who guarded the government
/
gallant soldiers on duty, however,
have but little regard for the pictures
| que and like most men similarly sit
uated, | was wearying for the termin-
| alton OF my two hours virgil, and lit
tie inclined TO admire the surrounding
scenery. AT length the clock struck
3, aud | was at once filled with feel
ing OF CHEEKY satisfaction at the I'M
mediate prospect OF being relieved,
and returning to the warm guard
room and drinking a cup OF hot coffee
before turning off TO sleep.
/ heard the sentry on the gate lusti-
iy shout sentry gop as a summons
for the relief to turn out; and just as
/ was preparing to take a last turn on
my post, l perceived, at the extremity
of the shadow cast by the officers
quarters, ghostly figure in a long
white robes, bearing in its hand
drawn sword. endeavored to shout
for assistance, but was so narrowed
with fear and wonder" that | was un-
able to articuate a single word, but
stood perfectly transhxed staring at
the apparition. 1t moved slowly past
me; but when 1t turned round and
raised it's disengaged hand TO its white
head covering, as If in salute, its as
pect so filled me with terror that be-
ing, as | mentioned before, of a nerv-
Gus temperament, | fell to tho ground
and only recovered Consciousness a
minute or two afterward. | was Wig
orously shaken up by the sergeant OF
the guard.
That non-commissioned officer along
with the men of the relief, laughed
heartily when l described the fright |
had received, and remarked that had
been dreaming. The sergeant, how
ever, performed the duty required OF
him by the rules of discipline in a
most inexoriable fashion. He depriv.
ed me of my arms and belts, and put
me in the prisoners quarters in the
guard-room.
Next day | was taken before the
commanding officer, hot-headed
Welshman, whom | shall call Col.
Morgan, charged with having been
asleep on my post. To him l related
particulars of the mysterious figure |
had seen; bat my statement, instead
of proving a satisfactory excuse for
my solfense, as | hoped 1t would,
threw the worthy colonel into state
of great indignation, and he at once
RENTED me for trial by court-mar-
tial.
On the third day after the sitting of
the court, l was Informed that my
sentence would be promulgated AT
forenoon parade. With n sinking
heart, heard the assembly" sounded
then the fall i'm and shortly after
wards the band played merrily, as il
in mockery of my agitation.
Escorted by file OF the guard, |
marched to the center of the hollow
square into which the regiment had
been formed, and the Adjutant read
my sentence, which was that | should
be imprisoned with hard labor for a
period OF elghty-four days. Appended
to the confirmation of the proceedings
of the court martial by the General
commanding the district was a note to
the following etfact; Considering the
nature OF the prisoners defense, which
was calculated TO excite an uneasy
ANNAAAE AIMING tAN AAtA VI AAH ItAt-
ment, | consider the punishment in
hcted quite inadequate to the enormity
OF his oifense.
The next day was escorted, baud
cuiled, to a military prison about six
miles distant, where, after having been
medically examined and weighed, |
was introduced TO most select assem-
blage Of erriug brethern Of the sword,
who were engaged in the most exhI-
ariaung occupation of picking oaxum,
alternSted with the agreeable muscu-
lar exercise of shot drill.
The humlatng and degrading stu.
alton in which found myself. through
no fault OF my own, made me.
naturally enough, deeply regret my
folly in having joined the army, and
excited within me many unpleasant
reflections on the good prospects in
civil life which / had thrown To the
winds. Like Mickey Frees father. in
Lovers Charles OMaley, | heartily
ejsculated Bad luck to the hand
that he4ld the hammer that struck the
shilling that listed me,
Now for the sequel of my ghost