The National tribune., 1891-04-09

y
cution of six OF our Union soldiers who, hav-
ing been convicted of dcsertion in the pres
euce Of the enemy, had been sentenced by
General Court Martial " 10 be shot to death
with musketry.n
Vividlv as / recall that terrible scene, Il is,
iu some respects. dwRrfed Ivy the recollection OF
that other execution had part In when hoy,
and which came moro nearly home to me, in
that the unfortunate victim of the wretched
culprit was my old aud personal friend. But
for the terrible denOuement my tale would be
trivial indeed.
More than forty years ago lived in town
Ia northern New York where there has been
military post since before the old French aud
Indian wars, and where one or more companies
Of United States troops have occupied the fort
Hs they do 10 this day.
As youngstor among the good people OF
the town ! was rich IN three ancient military
friends Of widely dissimilsr auteoedenls. One
was an old Frcnchman, NJ Justin J --, VINO
had been a drummer IN Nopoleous army az
Waterloo. he had worshped his Corscsn
God from the beginning to the end, and old
M. J-'s heart was nearer LougwoOd than
has own bIcsidc when ] knew him.
Another WIS an Irish gentleman Mr, James
R who had been a Sergeant In yelling
toms infantry IN the same sunday battle IN
June, 1915 where he had stood in the unfinch-
ing squares aud received the tempCstuOus
charges of the French Curassiors
The third WAS an old United States soldier,
RfIectionstely known among his many friends
as Uncle Josh H. An ancient Regular,
DE had fought the British in lol2i had hunted
Black Hawk la 1892; had chased Oaceoia aud
Billy BowlpEs in the Florida Everglades IN
1886 and had worn out bis iron nerves Ia fol-
lowing old Harvey over the Indian trails Of
the Far West beyond the Mississippi. Age
crept on apaco and, worn cut with marching,
pipe-Caying nul starchinE,' old Ducle Josh had
received b.s honorable discharge and retired 10
spend his latter days in the town he loved SO
well where surrounded by HE friends, he
swept Ger DIS wounds, OF tales Of sorrow done,
EhouideFsd his cruich aud showed how helds were
WON
old H. j. had fine market garden
and hot house Of rare plants in those days
near my fathers house, conducted, mainly, as
j now recoilcct by his Americanized sons and
daughters j was picturesque spOt-down IN
the valloy-the oHiet, quaint, trenchy sort OF
q home, mostly balcony and porch, and out-ol-
doors yine-clgi, standing away back from the
dusty country road with trim pathways, box
lined and clipped, winding 10 the hospitable
doorstep.
In another way, and aftera different pattern
was the home Of the other old Waterloo vete
ran. NJ. is friend and mine, SerE't
James R., between whose family and my
own, IN times long past, such tender intimacies
have existed that / may say only that ] have
been nuTsed by his Slaughter when a baby F;
have been danced on bis knee when a boy,
and have been ia battle with his son when we
had grown ~ manhood.
old Uncle tosh ard his wife had wee cot
tage on tie hillside near the river, neat and
trim S. could be- emh0wered in grateful shade
aud covered with climbing roses that il seems
as though ] can scent them even now. Here
she old couple devoid OF care aud devoted 20
oil saH and
neat and dainty house. her vines aud flowers,
her poultry, and her COW were The daily care Of
the faithful old housewife, whose pride IL was
o. have HeT cottage, simple IS il WIS., as sweet
AUD pure a. ANY palace in the land.
"The WGi,rwa-hcd wall. the nicely sanded floor.
Tie vEruishrd clock tiat clicked behind the door
The chesi Contrlyed a double debt 10 pay
bed by might, a chest Of drawers by day."
Az for the old man, when be wasn't gossip
sing among the infantry a. the garrison, or beat
ing the drum with the militia, or fussing
around I'D U,a job .printing office ia the town
for he always had a vague idea be could set
type, usually passed his time the front porch
al his cottage in bis shirt sleeves, vigorously
either backing o. pipe clayinR, OF POI ishing or
brushing s0methinR-a gentle, kindly, simple
hearted, brave old man. who was rich in friends.
and who never had ma enemy, aud yet his cbiei
bOast was tlat old Harvey cursed him once
down IN Florida; aud while he somehow, de-
rived vast deal Of satisfaction from the cpl
E0de, II was said that upon being closely Ques-
toned bee somewhat uuwill.ngly, admitted that
Gen. Harvey had mistaken him for some one
else
Ii was the delight Of my life, as q younester,
10 make the rounds between these three vet
Grams and the Regular Army garrison at the
fort at which latter place j usually consorted
with the n,H-ic boys, aud down IN the dry ditch
behino the barracks J learned from these noisy
embryo soia.cra 10 beat the drum aud play TIE
thrill flr.
Old ~ j. bad an ancient snare-drum
about three feet tall that be always swore he
beat with Napoleon at Waterloo; which tale
OF course ] fully believed especially as ! wa,
permitted o. thump ID la As Cover garden 4
my heart content. Ny old Irish frioud, who
lived ln dainty viue-ciad cottage not fal
away, and aid nothing bat SIT in bis doOrway
the hEe'oIg day, lad q wonderful old brass
mounted, shiny black leather shake, the front
whereof was adorned with brass blotch that
j was taught 10 regard az the Royal CypHor oil
llis Majesty King George H., aud out 0f tha
Top Of WHicH EprDutcd q wonderful pompou
the giorirs ~ which ] was led 30 believe hae
dimmed boz Che bnttle-sm0ze at Iiogucmonl
and Ia liayIc s5iute or Qudre Bras. ang
which, well padded with the Journal Of Com
Herce and TIC County Gentleman, ] was permit
Ted % STRAIT under up and down the garden
path
Now, dear old Uncle Josh bad resi- sword
hung lu frog from a well pipe -cayed boil
which 30 bfuIseif actually cut down 20 iit ni,
slender buyIsh waist. Tins sword" YVES II
reality, s5-ra.led sabcr-bsyonet AZ one tim,
used iu tic army, undiscovered aud inflicted
upon some Of UuI long suffering troops ID az
early oays oi the civil Rar derived Tor a.,
most part from some Of the French and Sar
dIulan tumru 4egymEs Of ltJJ SO Josi
had brought tals saugulnary tool home frou
lhe wuls Boo Florida. and cherished II AZ th
apple Q. Dos ,gu. Just bow many Seminole
had fallen beneath the alleged keen edge q
this Andrea lcrrars dare not suy 81 this at
date Bot b certainly played au important par
ID dreadful tragedy while ] was still young
Eter.
About t.is time my father, who was a Yves
Point graduate, WIS invited 10 command th
local company Ul the New York State Militia
the Guards. j was very swell orgauIzat ior
g0rFe0usly uniformed and savage s. armed vii
about hundred Glut lock muskets and ~
honeyc0mJrG brass G-pouudcrs, one OF Whic
bad already distinguished itsrlf on proceed Ia
Fourth ol inly by blowing OF rho right art
Of very uIrG fellow, whose military nnmt
for that occasion only, WIS no. J." b. wen
20 the war aiirrWaId as "a Captain, with hi
sword la l.s irit hand aud though lac has sleu
many year. ln a soldiers grave, those " b.
knew and loved him from childhood a. I dc
still have q tender recollection Of that gallau
soldier and true gentleman, Lieut.. Col Jane
Doyle 81 thc la7th n. Y.
OF course The pateruRl accession to militar
rank aud command fired my martial asnirs
lions also, viii the result that, although wa