The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-05-14

| VIC roau uiNerScu Il lllue nortn Oh parallel TO
the Rapiian and ran towards the Rappahan-
mock River. Jackson and Longstreets men
marched along this route in parallel columns
When the Macbeth reached the junction of the
roads on top Of the hill, the scene was grand and
imposing beyond de cripton. The country was
open and comparatively level for somo distance
and rs far as the eyes could reach was a
mighty river of moving men. Longstreet in
| the road and Jackson in the field to The left; the
| two commands hurryins on in the spirit of ri
valry to overtake Gen. Pope before he could
escape to the north side of the Rappahannock
At the forks of tho road some miles south of
| the river, Jackson fled up tho left road lead
| ing to Beverly Ford and Longstrcet down the
right to Kelly's Ford The impression that we
were nearing tho enemy was now quite general
| among the soldiers, and stimulated with tho
| prospect of battle, they moved forward with
| quickenng steps. 1t was, therefore, q matter
of some surprise when we were suddenly halt
cd long before dark and ordered into camp
| for the night
| The next morning, as VIC were march ing out
| of camp, man in full suit of Confederate gray
| was arrested just across tho road from us, in
ing the particulars that led to his arrest, it
| was easy enough to imagined that lie might
have Jared better had ho come into Longstrect's
camp strictly in the uniform of Longstrccts
men. At that time soldier in rags might
| have passed through Lees army easy enough
while one in good apparel would be the lob
served Of all observers and target for witt
cism, criticism and suspicion. Aught l know
his good clothes may have led to his arrest.
He was marched up to headquarters at house
| in the bond of the road, tried by drum read
court-marshal, condemned, and sentenced TO be
hung. The executioner, Il Confel lerate soldier,
was not long in adjusting one end of q rope
around his neck and the other over the limb of
tree in front Of the house. Just as he was
about to be executed the lady Of the house beg
ged not to hang him at her gate, and her re-
mon,trancc added five or ten minutes more
of time to his life. looked him we'll in the
face, rs lie was carried back Just in rear of
our battery and executed. lie seemed to re.
alize that his mission was at an end, and no.
ticed him shut his eyes and shudder lie was
splendid looking specimen of humanity and
he exhibited ut least one noble trait of charac-
ter. nuG y was on index Of some refinement:
Rather than his family should suffer becau Sc of
his iguominious death, he refused to give his
namc. lie had gone out like Andre the British
spy of revolutionary fame, on o perrilous mis-
sion for his country, and like Andre when the
inevitable overlook him met his fate heroically,
went down with his colors flying but unlike An
Dire in that his name will never appear in history
The e1ecutioner proposed au exchange of raj
ment and taking the silence of the spy for CON
sent left the place wearing the dead mans
boots before he was cold in his grave, rejoicing
in the luck that made him the Recipient OF a
needed article of personal comfort;
man quickly arrested tried, condemned and
executed is an episode in war that exctes
more interest aud mpresses more soldiers than
the dead and wounded on thousand battle
fields. 1t was common talk that morning thai
bogus dispatch, brought by him from Jack
son 10 Longstreet, occasioned the sudden halt Of
the previous evening. We had now reached
the river and found Pope ina strong position OH
the north side. The original plan of forcing q
crossing at Kclley's Ford was abandoned as
impracticablc, and we marched towards BRANDY
Station, along road running almost parallel
with the Rappahanock. We passed through
Stevcnsburg after night and crossed n stream
on what seem to be q bridge under water. 1t
was very dark and Impossible to take in our
surroundings. was impressed with the idea
that the slightest DETECTION to the right or
left would carry me into water of n great deptb
felt more comfortable when we moved ont of
| that stream and wen. into camp OH top of the
hill just beyond. The enemy fired an occasion
nj Shell"t us during the day, but they ex-
plodcd short of their mark and did us no more
harm than excite our nerves little.
The next morning we conlinucd our march
up the river. We passed through Brandy Sta
tion and marched down near to Beverly Ford
where an artillery combat was ALREADY in nro
gross. Leaving the road to our lc.t, we passed
up through Il yard and halted to the right of
residence, some three hundred yards in rear of
battery of the Washington Light Artillery,
then engaged in spirited artillery duel
with II Federal battery across the
river. Many Of the shot fired 10y the enc
my passed over the battery they were fighting
and went richochoting by us We hal been
watching this interesting duel but few
minutes, when We were ordered to take a posi-
ton on the crest of u commanding hill, soma
quarter Of u mile or more to our rirht and
engage Federal battery that was annoyir
our Infantry strct he'd along the hillside in
cXpo"ci position. The charge of the Ma,
through that open field and up TO our II
on top Of the hill. no doubt excited osi'
| mraiion Of some and the pity of othe' Tie