Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-07-17

enee Of the officers OF his mess, and he
had not resented the insult.
The captain kept his promise to make
my affail a personal matter between
them. But this was all the satisfaction
he ever got.
Captain - made superhuman eE-
forts to shield me, he even succeeded in
enlisting the colonel and other officers OF
the regiment IN my cause, who used their
best efforts to stay the unrelenting arm
Of military law.
But the charge was one Of exTaordi-
nary gravity, and having once been
brought to official notice must be investi-
gated, and if found to be true, such pun
ishment meted out as would have a salu-
tary effect for the future.
How cruelty swift they do these things
In the army. Within three hours Of my
return to camp under arrest was taken
before a drum head" court martial, the
testimony Of HardsOl was taken, then L
was asked If had anything to say.
did not deny that had slept on post,
but tried to excuse myself as best 1
could, by telling them my simple story.
During its recital I noticed that several
OF the officers Of the court were affected
to tears When was through, the
captain, who had been there defending
me as best he could, took me by the arm
and led me back to the guard tent, en-
couraging me the while with the hope
of acquittal, yet I could see he had none
himself
In an hour I knew the verdict. I was
sentenced to be shot the following day
at 6 O'Clock p. M, which would be official
" promulgated at brigade dress parade
that evening.
The ordeal through which I had
passed seemed for the time TO have
abated the fever which otherwise was
consuming me.
My burning thirst was aleviated,
grew calm and resigned. Hundreds of
soldiers were denouncing the entire pro
ceedings as a mOnstrOus outrage, but
was free from excitement or anger.
1t is wonderful how readily we give up
the world when once the inevitable starea
us IN the face.
After the first ezcruciating pang-
that natural parOxysm Of nature when
suudering the ties Of earthly hopes and
things, the rest is easy.
Heretofore 1 had often heard and
read Of men being lead ont to die who
had quietly and deliberately made every
preparation, and when the awful moment
arrived, they had walked forth calmly
and looked on his. pale flag Of death
with quiverless lips and unfaltering
courage.
This had appeared to me unreal and
, unnatural. was unable to understand
/ or comprehend such state of mind.
To me it had seemed that If placed IL
T. such a position I should have screamed
begged, imPlOred them to spare me
that they would have had to drag me t.
= execution, and that / should have dice
2 from grief and fright.
But 1 could understand it all now
A state Of mind that could face eternity
4 with calm intFepidity, instead Of seem
ing unnatural. on the contrary appeared
!, perfectly natural.
Among natures many inscrutablt
laws Is one which has for its constant oh
O. iective adaptability and adjustment o
!, situations, and SO il is, that man at thU
approach Of his fnality, is surprised t,
find that his mind and body is merciful
q ly prepared by the same gracious powe
7 which brought him into being, for tin
= last act in the drama of what We cal
= life.
In accordance with this principle,
!, had passed out OF dread, and felt ready
, for the great ordeal My greatest grie
! was the agony L knew it would bring OF
! my mother and family. 1 believed
: would break their hearts. Again, L wa
:, afraid they wOuld not fully understand
Just how my trouble all came about, an,
- how they would always think my dealt
had been a disgraceful and dishOnOrabl
:, one.
wrote them a long letter and ex
fl, planned everything. I especially begge,
:. my mother to believe had done M
o best and that ought not to be held re
,r spOnsible for what could not helE
. This letter I entrusted to the captain
~ who pledged me that it should be deliy
- cred, and that if he lived to get bac
: home he would personally vOuch for If
:, truth. I then placed In his keeping M
\ few earthly possessions, part Of whic
"a he was to take to my mother and til
! balance dispose Of among some Of IN
Of friends in the regiment whom named
After this L grew most impatient Z
. delay, and declaring that was read
~ expressed a wish that they would hay
-, it over with that same evening.
- For the life of me could not undel
~ stand the grief of the captain, and thos
= around me; for my part I felt serenit
"A Of mind understandable.
Az CHAPTER II
I'D As before minated we were in I'll
1t, very heart Of the enemy's country wit
an army on our front and a battle va
ed imminent. Our army was somewhat {
lie disadvantage. We were the aggressor
b. our supplies had run low, our trOoI
en- were worn with long marches and VI
e, endured exposure. On the other han
the confederates were on the defensiv
is fresh and acclimated, besides they o.
p cupied one Of the greatest natural strong
y, holds on this continent.
q Added to this they were in uninte
l rupted communication with their bal
~ OF supplies, for up to this time the
:. had never been a federal force south
where we then were. I listened to Il
no talk and hustle Of the coming bait
with pathetic Indifference, yet I Wi
n. conscious Of a desire to take part in
OF and pictured to myself how reclzlessl
p, dasing I would be, as death had now I
Id terrOrs for me, and in that way cOu