Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-07-17
SENTENCED TO BE SHOT.
ny COL. ROBERT 4. TREDEpIoK.
CHAPIEE i.

'sOhl you po' chile, you is jist about
dead Wild de ty-fard fever. Pears to me
dat Mars Linckum ought to hab 'nuf
men to whOop de dam rebuls wild out
putin babies in de wah."
Thus sOliloquized Jim" our contra
band company cook, who, while fOraging
on his own hook outside the lines. had
discovered me seated on a log holding
my gun, L was on picket post, almost
dsliriOus with the scOrching, Parching,
literally burning fires Of fever cOursing
through my veins.
Obi how I did suffer- No one but
those who, In some degree, have passed
through its fortunes, can appreciate the
horrors OF my situation. I was surround
ed with none Of the Injuries by which
the wealthy may palliate the stings Of
disease, nor even the meager comforts
seldom denied the humhlest Of the poor
in siclmess-that Of being permitted to
lie on a bed, under a roof, with fur walls
around it. / had none Of these, and
what was worse, I was hundreds and
hundreds OF miles from home, with no
one, as I believed, to care particularly
whether I survived or persisted.
In all the dehrium ana chaos which
controlled my brain, this thought Of
home and my friendless condition re-
manned uppermOst. was very young
so young that while Jim's expression
Of sympathy caused my heart to rise in
to my throat, yet 1 took his allusiOn to
me as baby as something of course.
In fact throughout the army, those who
came in contact with me mHrveled at my
youth, and 1 had become accustomed to
being called by infantile names. AS /
have said, was absolutely being con-
sumed with fever, and felt that was
dying OF thirst, when the faithful cook
found me. This he fully realized, and
darted away In quest of water, and the
sergeant OF the guard.
imagined that to shut out the light
FROM my eyes would cool them, but the
moment they were closed, ten thousand
grotesque devils began a tantalizing
dance before me; the very hills and trees
weuld roll over, and apparently were
about to fall and crush me. All man
ner Of horrible shapes passed in rapid
review In front Of my mental vision.
felt an intense desire to scream, WheI
the thought came to me: 'sIhey TOLD
me the rebel pickets are in my immedi
ate front, and in hearing distance; If
cry out they will hear and laugh at M
for a mere boy instead of a soldier"
Would Jim ever come back? Oh,
had it. Jim had gone down to tn
great spring which dubbed up a quar-
ter Of a mile away, trying to dip up
whole camp kettle full of water for m
knowing how thirsty I Was-but a
fast as he brought the vessel up, drip
ping with the glorious nectar, it woul
spill back. Why couldn't he see ther
was no bottom to the kettle? 1 wOul
Just run down myself, tell Jim how
was, and while there could lie dow
and drink out of the spring. OF coura
I should drink it almost dry; the frs
draught would exhaust the water until
could see the wet banks; after the SEQ
Ond, should have 20 wait for a fres
supply to rush in from under the gres
sand stone and refill the basin.
Acting on this delirious impulse, an
guided by instinct begat OF my VI
quenchable thirst, almost few dow
the mountain side, to drink at this,
me, fountain Of perfect waters
When I reached it I drank as I b,
ieve 1 never have before, nor sine
The recollection Of the felicity Of slael
ing my parched tongue and throat, an
bathing my face in that sparkling sprin
water, the delicious and complete relax
ton that every particle OF my poor trie
BODY enjoyed, comes back to me aft,
all these intervening years like a dreal
OF paradise.
When I could drink no more, "a
back and resumed by endless beat, bJ
soon after a feeling Of quiet languOr, an
desire for rest began to steal over IN
what would I give for permission to
down and sleep-sleep for a year
least. But no; ON picket guard; Il
enemy is Just in front, and the officer
the day, while making the grand round
has said to me to be constantly on Il
alert, that the post was an important on
and heard him mutter to himself as
moved way, that it was a shame to pl
so young a soldier on picket duty.
I must let him see that I was equal
the task, if was such a little soldier.
But the desire to sleep
Surely it would not be a violation
duty, neither would it hurt anything
person for me to lean against that o
pine stump and rest Just moment.
course L wouldn't sleep, and yet If
could only close my eyes for five minut
it would do me a great deal Of good,
can let the breech Of my gun rest on Il
ground and clasp the barrel in my arm
that viii make me appear as though
was keeping a special watch for bur
should a rebel picket happen TO get K
close and look my way. Thus reasOl
ing allowed myself to be alured In
assuming such POsitiOn-oh, what r
lief it was
In a moment was back at home, an
my mother drew a big bucket from Il
well, filed with clear cold water for m
i had drank every drop and was askin
for more, when aWOke. The first ray
Of the morning sun, clear and brigi
after the long rains, were lighting up Il
gloomy pines. / had Just closed M
eyes a moment, and here was the 50
shining. was feeling better, but Whel
Ia my gun Gone; and I have hes
asleep
This means death
It maans something WoEse-disgrao
'alept on his post % What VIII NV poS
mother and little brothers and sisters "a
- this And more especially after 81