Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-08
A Barraek Ghost Story.
Chamberts' Journal.

A Barraek Ghost Story
Chamberts' Journal
prisoner have you any objections
to be tried by me as President or by
any member of this court-martialG"
asked the field officer who had been
detailed for the duty of presiding over
the court
''No sir" I answered; for it was
my most unen viable situation that
morning to be brought to the court
room for trial, having been ''put back"
by my commanding officer few days
before On a charge of having been
asleep on my post while Oh sentry
an offensive characterized in my in
dictment as conduct in prejudice to
good order and military discipline.
The members composing the court
were then sworn, and the trial pro-
ceeded III the cumbrous fashion pc
culiar to military tribunals, the Pres
ident laboriously writing down every
word of the evidence as it was uttered.
The Sergeant who had been In charge
of the guard at the time of my alleged
offence was the principal witness
against me, and he began to describe,
with grotesquelly ungramatical vol
utility, how he had found me stretch
ed on the ground asleep, but was at
once pulled up short by the Presi-
dent, who ordered him to say what
he had to say in as few words as pos
sible.
"Was the prisoner SOBER" asked
one of the officers when the Sergeant
had finished his evi5anoe
"Quite sober, SIR" replied the man
Of stripes.
The man who composed the relief
having corroborated the Sergeant's
statement, I was called upon for my
defense.
J. therefore narrated that shortly
before my two hours on dety had ex-
pired, saw white figure carrying a
drawn sword pass close to my post !;
and that, being of a nervous, excit-
able temperament, / was so frighten-
that [ fell to the ground in ap uncon-
scious state, and only recovered when
was reused by the Sergeant OF the
guard.
Prisoner" remarked the President,
in my twenty years experience in
the army have served upon unmer.
GUS courts-martial, and have heard all
kinds of ingenious defenses put for
ward by men in your present pasltion
in excuse of the offenses with which
they were charged; but your lire of
defense is the most remarkable that
has come under my observation.
Who, do you think. will credit story
of that descripton2 Assuredly not /.
for one. Now prisoner" continued
the Major In a kindly tone. ST must
advise you that your action in submit
ting to the court a statement of that
description is extremely injudicious.
You will do yourself a positive injury
by preserving in it, not only with re
gard to the probable extent of your
punishment, but also to your reputa-
ton as soldier. It will be far better
for you simply to own that you were
asleep. You are a young man who
has served but six months in the regi-
ment; so, under the circumstances,
assuming that you adopt my sugges-
ton which is assuredly meant for your
good, the court may think fit. consis-
tently with the duty demanded of it
by the hard and fast requirements of
military law, to recommend much
lighter sentence of Imprisonment than
WOULD be administered to an older
and more experienced memeer of the
service"
81 can only tell the truth, SIR" I
urged.
THAT, then, is your defense = that
you were frightened by the figure you
saw9" asked the officer in a tone of
vexation.
''That is my defense, SIR" I re,
piled.
Every WE'LL" said the President
writing down my staten emit. escort,
remove the prisoner. Stopl About
his characters Call the captain of his
company"
My captain, answering the sum-
mons stated that my conduct had
been most exemplary, after which l
received the command: left turn,
quick march!" and was removed to
the guard-room; and the members OF
the court-martial began their delibera-
tons on the duration of the period OF
Imprisonment they meaat to admins
ter to me.
[ shall now relate the facts in con.
nection with the appearance of the
figure" before alluded to. At
o'clock on the morning of my arrest
was posted on sentry in front of 6
wall which had been built on the face
of cliff overnanging the beach. Why
that particular spot required guarding
when any attempt on the part of s
soldier to break out OF barracks woulC
be equivalent to committing suicide
as the rock had sheer unbroken de-
scent of $50 feet, was matter Of puz
zliug speculation to the men of all tn,
regiments which in turn occupied TIT
quarters refer to. A tradition, how
ever, which was related to me by al