Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-09-18


Il knoC he was one of that guard,
added the Adjutant.
~Very well. gentlemen said Cen
eral Custer, slowly. -The evidence
seems very clear, and 1 viii not detain
you any longer"
The two officers withdrew, and, as
they rode off to their respective COM
mands, Custer turned to his Adjutant
and ordered that the prisoner be
brought before him.
The scene in the Valley at that mo-
ment was q very beautiful one. The
sun had Just dropped behind the hill
tops, and the air was cool. while de-
licious breeze spraDe up and came to
us laden with the perfume Of the fields
and woods. The scattered fires among
the camps were beginning to burn
brighter as the shades Of evening grew
darker, and the wsrlike appearance of
the landscape assumed softer beauty.
The tents, the fires, and the shrill
neighing of the cavalry horses, the
gruff challenges of the sentinels, and
the dropping shots on the picket lines
gave active Life to the picture. In the
foreground was being enacted strange
scene, one involving life and death.
The prisoner was brought to the
campfire between two guards, and. on
seeing the General seated on the other
side, drew himself up haughtily, as
though resenting his arrest.
"My man, we think you are spy"
said Custer, in quiet voice. What
have you to say to the charge? Can
you prove that you are not one?
@There's a woman here, from the
village" replied the prisoner, ignoring
the Generals question; "she will tell
you that I am her son. I live in the
village. Does that make me spy?"
where is the woman?" asked the
General.
An elderly looking woman, in evi-
dent terror, came forward and stood in
silence before us.
as that man your son? ?" was the first
question.
"Yes, he is" was the reply.
"How long has he been in the vii
lage?"
"Ever since last spring"
"You are sure, quite' sure, that he is
your son?"
Eyes"
"Docs he belong to the Southern
army?"
II dunno"
"Will you swear that he is your
son?"
"Yes."
At that moment an orderly came up
on horseback, and, dismounting, whis-
pered few words in the ear of the
Adjutant General, at the same time
handing him bundle.
The officer stepped forward, and
quickly unrolling the package, dis
closed to us all a Confederate uni
form.
General" said he, "this uniform
was found in this woman's house,
where the prisoner was captured"
A sudden flush in the mans face, a
swift look of anger, and glance ex-
changed between him and the woman
was all the answer either made to the
announcement and the questioning
looks following.
"That will do" remarked the Gen
eral, gravely; "let the woman go back
to her home"
As she turned to follow the orderly.
the woman gazed for moment at the
prisoner; her look seemed to say, II
have done what I could" but it was
very evident that there was no rela-
| tionship between the two; she made
no appeal for his, life; there was no
leave-taking passed them. Certainly
she was not his mother or kin to him;
he acknowledged afterward that he
had known her but day.
"My man, it's a clear case," said
Custer, so soon as the woman was out
of hearing. "You are a Confederate
soldier, and you are inside our lines in
disguise. You are therefore spy ac-
cording to all the laws of war. It is
my duty to tell you that you must die. :"
"Die! What without trial?" ex-
claimed the prisoner, in a startled
tone.
"You have been tried Just now and
condemned. And I, as a General in
the service Of the United States Gov
ernment, must sentence you to death
as spy. I beg you to believe me
when say that there is no hope for
you. You die at o'clock tomorrow
morning. I will send chaplain to
you. and trust you will endeavor to
prepare yourself for your fate"
"Are you in earnest-do you mean
it?" demanded the paisoner.
Indeed, I mean it. Take him back,
guard. If he attempts to escape, shoot
him." and the General turned and en-
tered his tent.
The condemned man walked away
with an air of scorn; seemingly he be-
Neved that it was a trick to try him.
The chaplain, however, spent the
night with him in the guard-tent, and
finally succeeded in convincing him
W.