Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-02-28

| you just uO" mo"
stares death calmly in the face
For maybe 1 did not comprehend
my situation.
But 1 vas sentenced to death (;
that [ fully comprehend when they
marched me, handcuffed, between
two guards with arms at "charge"
and bayonets fixed, back to the
prison, aud instead of Uy former
l2xI2 cell, barred and hoted me
in an underground. dark, dun
geon, 3x10 feet, with tub occupy
ing two feet of that sparse space,
significantly suE gestive that was
to stay right there until the day
and hour.
The sentence was fully realized
during the sunless days and no
darker nights of the weeks that
followed.
The post chaplain's was the only
human voice l heard for weeks,
and his only once, for my levity
shocked him so that he gave me
up as an irredeemAble reprobate.
He offered a prayer for me, how
eyer, courteuosly kneeling with
him on the same floor. But he
never came again.
He told me-what my occasion
ally allowed letters from my friends
had to plainly informed me-that
there was no hope of escape from
the fate that seemed to them and
the outside world to be staring me
In the face. Every possible effort
had been made; every available
influence pressed into service with
the President, aud he had possibly
declined interfering with the judg-
ment OF the court martial. The
worth chaplainy corroborated their
sad information. Said he:
"Captain, you should prepare
for death, for your life ends in a
few days"
Finally it came. Shall l ever
forget that November morning IN
1863 2"
They had told me I should he
taken out at 9 o'clock in the moru-
ing and would be allowed an otfi'
GERS room In the barracks, where
nv parents, sisters and brothers
would meet and spend my LIST few
with me.
When taken out they had to
seat mt in the outer guard room a
quarter of an hour, until nv eyes
became accustomed TO the Paercing 6
glare of Sunshine.
Then they took me to the room
where l found father, mother, sis
ters, brothers aud minister. 1t
was the quar- ters OF all officer oi
the post, and very comfortably
furnished.
Just o0tside-we could see them
throag the wlndOw-stood a special
detail Of IL men, selected as the
unwilling executors of the senten'
ced man.
Telling me that should hive un
till the last minute before 3 o'clock
but then would have to 60, the
colonel lOckeu the door aud sef'
me with my friends.
They had secured the privilege
of spending these last few hours
with mel know to comfort ano
console, perhaps TO strengthen in'
J for the fearful through which haE
to pass. But had to comfort aud
; console them.
Nv father was broken down. L
l must be a ahorrid strain on father
feelings to sit and look at his sou
in the prime of manhood, ant
t count off the few intervening mlu
i utes of that boys remaining life.
! Brothers and sisters could onl
t gaze at inc In speechless misery
appalled, by the gloomy shadow c
. death that was then casting abou
| me.
y had to become cOnsOler, an
I strained every nerve, called fort
. every power to smile. l would nc
permit the trembling man OF Go
i, to o1er prayer, knowing his woro
: would fall upon those loving eaI
:, as death walls, az clods falling o
- my coffin. l drew them by ever,
> tbing Interesting could think
- to contemplate anything but IN
n pending doom.
AsI would about succeed IL
little clock on the mantle wou
~ strike, or a tOststep on the sta
- outside, or some movement OF IL
garrison would recall them with
= sigh to the hOTJd sent.
10 The little clock on the man'
" seemed TO me Ia these nterva
)" to tick loudly as the 'slatter OF
y mill.