The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1893-07-20

camc n Veritnblc paradise to those priv
ileEcd to bask In its comparative cool.
1t wal 10 such retired spots that the
boys in blue repaired whenever they
Received permission, in small groups, to
leave the trenches to refresh them
selves by a breathing rpelG Here they
were wont 10 Indulge in that seductive
and Fascinating game, devoid of moral
thrpitnde in the army, draw poker. 1t
was In such comparative safe shelter,
too, that the frequent courts-martial
and councils of officers were held.
1t is a court-mnrtial incident this
story relates. Courts martial in the
terrible days OF the war were as fire.
luent as casualties and dire as the cle-
ments of destruction. They were of the
1rumhcad variety and their decisive
findings were often made known to tho
army only by the smothered report of
half a dozen rifles from some sunken
gulch on an isolated deciivity. This
Simultaneous detohation carried it's
own significant import, dire and yet
without dread, SO calloused had the
stern discipline of war made the true
and patriotic soldiery. To them a cow
ard was even poor food for powder. A
deserter should suffer more d~isgraccful
execution, but shooting him like n coy
otc saved the time and trouble of hang
ing. No one who has had the expert
ence will asseverate that officers de-
tailed for n drumhead court-martial
ever forgot the dictates Of humanity,
the responsibility that rested upon
them or the gravity Of the occasion.
Yet, doubtless, in those days Of sharp
and %pcremptory action, when the ut
most cxactions OF discipline were regui-
site to preserve the morals of the army,
the victims of the grim auxiliary courts
often experienced injustice
suffered death undescrvcdlS.
1t happened at the place and time
mentioned. The writer, a mounted
officer Of the line, had just ridden to
that point of the earthworks hat coilcd
about ST. Petersburg like the folds of
a shining anaconda and was designated
as Fort Hell. His errand vas with d
general officer, whom he found sur
rounded by his staff directing the de-
tails of his command behind the com
parative security of n redoubt. Over
their heads swept and whizzed the mis-
siles Of the enemy. whirling clouds Of
dust n mile beyond on the lower plains,
where they fell harmless. To this day
natives in the neigbborhood find it
profitable to plow up and gather the
tons of lead that in those days turned
the red fields in the vicinity of the
siege works into q vast bank OF lead.
While engaged in conversation every
once in awhile one of those inccndiarv
proiectilcs known as mortar shells
would drop down from the clouds in I'M
pleasant proximity to this group of Off
GERS. One might shield himself behind
breastworks against muskct shot, can
o balls and shell, but only the recess
Of a gopher hole or n heavily covered
bomb-proof was assurance against the
penetration of these deadly intruders.
Resting securely, us might seem, in
the depths of a valley, evep be-
yond reach of the whiz and
whirr of shot and shell, the blue sky
above scarcely visible through the
mirky air, ones c~omplacent revery was
liable to be rudely disturbed by one OF
these tremendous bombs falling from
the serenity above without the least
prcmonition. II he escaped to tell OF
the incident it was related as a mere,
ordinary, everyday affair, that was all.
What may seem to the civilian a strange
and extravaganza narration, to the vet
eran is commonplace, without novelty
or interest. That is why, perhaps, ole
soldiers who love TO talk of the war tc
their comrades find no enjoyment in re
lating their experience to such as are
devoid of the credulity begotten of ex
perience, who are apt to manifest thciI
apprehension that the narrator draw,
the long bow with reckless disregard.
The canteen had just passed around.
For an instant there was one of those
momentous lulls that everyone remem-
bers who has experienced the operations
of a siege or u battle. The soldiers
raised their heads TO glance along the
trenches and take a survey of the silent
camps far in the distance to the rear
Men and officers moved hither and
thither secure for the moment in the
silence. Death in the air rested u
catch its breath. Then from n gulch a
some distance came a dull, muffled ex
plosion, and a cloud of smoke and dus
rising showed hat a mortar shell from
the siege batteries of the enemy hat
fallen and exploded. That was all
and that was all anyone thought sbou
1t. But it happened at that spot and a
that moment u drum head court-martia
was sitting. A poor devil had somehow
impressed his commanding officer will