Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-03-12
RETRIEVED, BUT AN IDIOT,
A Southern BOY Caught I'm tho Act of
Dcscrting and Con lcmuoI TO BE
ShoI-IseGOrc the MuskeIS,

anu on u oC
ShOt-BeiOrc the Muskets.
One night, when I was sergeant of
picket post well advanced toward the
Union lines, instructions were received
to keep sharp watch for deserters, Not
more than an hour later we made a cap
ture. a boy, about eighteen years old,
private in Georgia regiment, had left
camp with the intention of visiting his
home, which was then inside the Union
lines. He was not over bright, and when
brought in by picket he seemed to look
upon the matter as n Joke. 1t was only
when he was escorted to camp and put
under guard, charged with trying to de-
sert to the enemy that he seemed to
realize the gravity of his situation.
A court martial made short work of his
case. The only defence he set up was
that he was homesick and wanted to see
his mother, and that he surely meant to
return that same week. There might
have been something in this appeal had
he not admitted that he knew his home to
be within the Union lines and that there
was strong probability OF his being car
tured by the federals.
From the hour he was sentenced to be
shot he was placed under my charge
think it was about week from the find
ing of the court martial TO the day of the
execution. For the first two or three days
the boy was like one struck dumb, and he
answered no questions When this state
of mind wore off he spent most Of his time
in weeping, praying and writing letters.
1t was only on the night before the eNecu-
ton that he became talkative. AS l car
ried in his supper he Asked
Sergeant, did you ever see Ccserter
shot"
ayes"
'How is it done!"
"By file of men. Six Of my cGuad
have been detailed in you case"
'Win they blindfold me"
eyes"
"Wiu stand ups'
"No, you will be seated on your coffin"
He spoke with more curiosity than con-
Germ, and | was glad to see it. SO long
as he had to die it was better to show Il
brave front. / sought 10 encourage him
in this, but he replied -
ooh, you needn't be afraid of my break
ing down. All | ask of you is to make
quick work Of it."
Next morning when nc marched ont
the air was raw and the sky was gloomy
as pail. When | brought him out he
was the cooler of the two. l was nervous
and trembling while he was absolutely
cool and. self-possessed.
ais itVime?" he asked IS l went il.
eyes"
"Well, Pm ready"
"How do you fcel!"
"l'm all right"
When we reached the GROUNDS which
had been selected | saw that about six
thousand men had been marched up to
witness the execution. The boy looked
about him with considerable curiosity,
but showed no signs of weakness. When
we reached the open grave and the coffin
resting in front of it he caught a quick
breath, ard something like terror could be
read i'll his eyes,
stood there with him while the firing
party retreated few PAGES and came to
"frent" Then an officer came forward
and read the charge and the findings. All
this time had hole of the boys hand, we
standing shoulder tC shoulder There was
no trembling but lis flesh was so hot
| that IL seemed to blister mine.
When the officer had finished reading he
stepped away leaving us along.
81 must blindfold YOU" said as pro-
duced handkerchief.
"Yes"
you are going to die like brave man"
~ told you | would"
placed the handkerchief over his eyes
and tied the ends at the back of his head,
and then, taking his arm, whispered =
"You must sit down"
eyes"
81 am going now"
'Goodby to you, Sergeant. Let it be
over soonr'
When had reached the squad there
was nothing to wait for, and the orders
were issued -
"Rcadyp
"Aimr'
The command "Firer' was Just tremb-
ling on my lips when an officer waving a
white handkerchief appeared behind the
prisoner. l ascertained, at n later date,
that none of the muskets were loaded, but
this fact was not ever known to the firing
| squad.
The prisoner had been reprieved. /
advanced and broke the glad news TO him,
and then removed the bandage from his
eyes and assisted him to rise.
Great heavens, but what change! He
had smile on his face-the grin of an
IDIOT The light of intelligence had gone
out of his eyes, and his first movement
was to spring up flop his arms and crow
like q rOosterl From that moment until
he was finally discharged and cent home
no man heard an intelligent word from
his lips nor saw anything like intelligence
in his face. He was not crazy, but idiotic.
That one minute of awful suspense had
drowned out the light of reason and so
changed his every look that his own