The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1890-01-03
THE LAST REVEILLE.

tiOn.
"a man to be shot p A man to
be shot Al The stake to day !" This
was the word passed through the
camp one bright morning in Jan
nary, 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 il to see
the life OF one pass away in blood
while The troops had witnessed the
death of thousands amid the strife
and carnage of war; But they
fell and died in the din and smoke
OF battle. while cannon doomed
and the roar OF mnsketry and the
yells OF victorious comrades was
heard on all sids. Not so with this
poor unfortunate; he was to meet
death alone.
While Longslreet's corps was
passing from Virginia TO Georgia,
to reinforce Gen. Bragg, stringent
orders had been issued, iorbidding
soldiers from leaving their com
mands under the heaviest penal
tics. Every man was needed Tor
the bloody drama, soon to be en-
acted on the field OF Chickamauga.
1t was a trying time for those who
had not seen their homes aud cher
ished ones for years Some passed
so near they could see The faces Of
mothers and wives and the waver-
ing Of chubby little hands.
But The order was imperative, it
must be obeyed.
There was one poor soldier from
the mountains of Georgia, with not
intellect sufficient to realize the
danger of disobedience, nor the
enormity Of the crime of deser-
tion. Country to him was his own
little domain among the cliffs and
gorges of the mountains. His pa
triotism consisted in the mainten-
ance of his suffering family at
home. He knew nothing of the
causes, nor cared less for the re-
suits Of the war.
On nearing his home, the thought
perhaps Of his family was upper
most in the mind, he sought fav-
orable opportunity and left for his
home in the mountains. He was
speedily captured, tried by court
martha, found guilty and condemn
ed to be shot. An example must
be made, the discipline of the army
maintained. The day had come.
Barksdale's Mississippi band COM
menced the first reville, the last
for the condemned. How sad to
hear the last lingering notes as they
died away, then again reverherat-
ing along the mountain side, now
swelling, now receding, till all was
still. Then Wofford's and Semmes'
Georgia band took up the solemn
requiem, and as the last lay could
be scarcely heard, Kershaw's and
Jenkins's South Carolina took up
the solemn dirge, the last revellle
for the poor unfortunate.
AT 10 o'clock the troops III COM
mand of Col. Jas. ID. Nance, of the
Third South Carolina regiment,
were formed la a hollow square
and waited the coming of the de-
tail with the condemned. There
was gloom and sadness all along
the line. On every side was moth
ing but sympathy and prayers for
the unfortunate comrade. All felt
there was no hope; there could be
no reprieve. Nothing but a pardon
from the President could save him.
He had no friend at court. He
must die.
Soon he was brought inside the
inclosure and marched slowly
in front of the troops, preceded by
the Mississippi band playing the
dead March" and followed by a
detail of thirty men at reverse
arms. who were drawn 10 be The
unwilling executioners OF the
doomed man.
The son Of the condemned man,
a lad of 13 Summers, walked by his
side. 10 whom he was conversing
in a low tone, perhaps giving his
last advice and instructions, or
sending hls last farewell TO hls
heart broken wife and sorrowing
little children. He did not seem TO
be communing with his God. He
walked with a firm step. No sign
Of fear or dread upon his rugged
brow as he passed in his last re.
view. His was not the death OF a
defiant savage chief condemned 10