, 1889-12-26
THE LAST REYEILLE.
A. Pathetic Story of the Re-
bellion.
HIS LITTLE SON SAW HIM SHOT.
A Brave Man Of the South Faces
q Dishonorable Death With
out Flinohing.

"a man to be shot! A man to be
shot at the stake to-dayW This was
the word passed through the camp
one bright morning In January,
1864. Ordinarily, the death of one
man In times of war goes for little.
What was the life Of one poor
soldier among the thousands in the
camp? What was 1t to see the life
of one pass away in blood while tho
troops had witnessed the death of
thousands amid the strife and cor
mage of war? But they fell and died
in the din and smoke of battle, while
cannon doomed and the roar of
musketry and the yells of victorious
comrades were heard on all sides,
Not so with this poor unfortunate;
he was to meet death alone.
While Longstreet's corps was
passing from Virginia to Georgia, to
reinforce General Bragg, stringent
orders had been issued forbidding
soldiers from leaving their COM
mands under the heaviest penalties.
Every man was needed for the
bloody drama, soon to be enacted
on the field of Chlckamauga. 1t was
trying time to those who had not
seen their homes and cherished ones
there for years. Some passed so
near they could see the faces of
mothers and wives and the wav-
ing of chubby little hands.
But the order was imperative, 1T
must be obeyed.
There was one poor soldier from
the mountains of Georgia, with not
intellect sufficient to realize the dam
ger of disobedienee, nor the onor-
nifty of tho crime of desertion.
Country to him was his own little
domain among the cliffs and gorges
of the mountains. His patriotism
consisted In the maintenance of his
suffering family at home. He knew
nothing of the causes, nor cared less
the results of the war.
on nearing his home, the thought
perhaps of his family was upper
most In his mind; he sought favor
able opportunity and left for his
home in the mountains. He was
speedily captured, tried by u court
martial, found guilty, and con-
demned to be shot. An example
must be made, the discipline of the
army maintained. The day had
come. Barkesdnle's Mississippi
band commenced the first revelle,
the last for the condemned. How
sad to hear the last lingering notes
as they died away, then reverberat-
ing along tho mountain side, now
swelling, now receding, until all
was still. Then Wofiord's and
Semm's Georgia bands took up the
solemn requiem, and as the last lay
could be scarcely heard, Kershaw 's
and Jenkins South Carolina took
up the solemn dirge, the last reveille
to the poor unfortunate.
At 10 o'clock the troop, In COM
mand of Colonel James ID. Nance of
the Third South Carolina regiment,
were formed in n hollow square, and
waited the coming of the detail with
the condemned. There was gloom
and sadness all along the line. On
every side was nothing but sympa-
thy and prayers for the unfortunate
comrade. All felt there was nc
hope; there could be no reprieve.
Nothing but pardon from the pres
ident could save him. He had nc
friend mt court. He must die.
Soon he was brought inside tho
enclosure and marched slowly ir
front of the troops, preceded by tn,
Mississippi band playing the "DeaC
March, md followed by detail %
thirty men, at reverse arms, who
We're drawn to be the unwilling exc
cutioneis of the doomed man.
The son of the condemned, II lat
of thirteen s,lmme-s, walked by mi:
side, to whom he was conyersing ii
, II low tone, perhaps giving his las
advice and instructions, or sending
his last farewell to his heart-brokei
wife and sorrowing little children
He did not seem to be communint
with his God. That he had attend
ed to when hope fed. He walkec
with firm step, no sign of fear OF
dread upon his rugged brow as h'
passed I'm his last review. His wai
not the step of "a defiant savage
chief condemned to the stake, but o
one who had made peace with God
had received pardon from the Grea
Captain on high. Rapidly was h'
nearing the brink of the mystic
river, beyond whose dark and tur
bid waters none have ever seen anC
over which all must cross alone
Time with him was soon to verg'
into eternity and roll on like rush
ing stream as 1t courses Its way t.
the sea. The war with him is over
He had heard the last tattoo. Se'
as he passes by how nobly he meet
his fate; how bravely he meet
death. What an example was h
not setting to those who had ever
fiinched I'm battle to see him so bold
ly march to death.
On reaching the open space at tn
head of the columns, he wa
ordered to kneel In front of thu
stake, and his arms pinioned to II
He was then blindfolded, and th'
guards took their position fifteel
PAGES In front and ordered to load
He asked the guards to aim ut hi
heart. His little son stood a few
feet to his right with as much com
posure and stoiclsm as his father.
"Attentionv' cried the officer u
command. "Ready, aim, ,"-at thi
command, "fireW shouted tn
doomed man, and the report G
thirty rifles rang out on the still ail
A sudden tremor, his head falls fol
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