Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-07-22
SAVED BY A BOMB.
How Civil War Court Martial
Was Suspended.

was SuSpended.
It was duringthe siege of Petersburg
In the summer of 1864. A torrid sun
sent its rays pouring down unmerciful-
ly. The red Virginia soil behind the
union line defenses had been pulverized
by transportation teams, light artillery,
siege trains and the feet of the soldiers
so that wherever one went it was wad-
ing through Il foot or more of veritable
brick dust. The temperature of the
gopher holes, bomb proofs, covered
ways and trenches, where the multi
tude of armed men lay to escape the
sheet of lead and iron hail continually
passing over them, was the air of a
fiery furnace. 1t was hot as the breath
of cannon and heavy with powdered
soil and whitening vapors. 1t was the
oppressive, almost intolcrable atmos-
phere of siege that only those who
experienced and endured can under
stand. The shade of the few isolated
pines that had here and there escaped
the AK of the engineer and quarter
master was welcome source of occa-
sional relief. Sheltered by hill or ris-
ing knoll sufficient to protect from the
death tempest that swirled above, it be-
came q veritable paradise to those priv
ileged to bask in its comparative cool.
1t was to 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 n breathing spell. Here they
were wont to indulge in that seductive
and fascinating game, devoid of moral
turpitude 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 court-martial incident this
story relates. Courts-martial in the
terrible days of the war We're as fre-
quent as casualties and dire as the ele-
ments of destruction. They We're of the
drumhead variety and their decisive
findings were often made known to the
army only by the smothered report of
half a dozen rifles from some sunken
gulch on an isolated declivity. This
simultaneous detonation 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 cow
ard was even poor food for powder. A
deserter should suffer more disgraceful
execution, but shooting him like coy
ote saved the time and trouble of hang
ing No one who has bad the expert
ence will asseverate that officers de-
tailed for a 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 shayp
and peremptory action, when the ut
most exactions of discipline were requi-
site to preserve the morals of the army,
the victims of the grim auxiliary courts
often experienced njustice-sometimes
suffered death undeservedly.
1t happened at the place and time
mentioned. The writer, mounted
officer of the line, had just ridden to
that point of the earthworks that coiled
about st. Petersburg like the folds of
shining anaconda and was designated
as Fort He'll. His errand was with a
general officer, whom he found sur
rounded by his staff directing the de-
tails of his command behind the COM
parative security of redoubt. Over
their heads swept and whizzed the mis-
siles of the enemy, whirling clouds of
dust mile beyond on the lower plains,
where they fell harmless. To this day
natives in the neighborhood 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 vast bank of lead.
While engaged in conversation every
once in awhile one of those incendiary
projectiles known as mortar shells
would drop down from the clouds in un-
pleasant proximity to this group of Off
GERS. One might shield himself behind
breastworls against muskct shot, can
non balls and shell, but only the recess
of gopher hole or a heavily covered
bomb-proof was assurance against the
penetration of these deadly intruders.
Resting securely, as might seem, in
the depths of valley, even be-
yond reach of the whiz and
Whirr of shot and shell, the blue sky
above scarcely visible through the
mirlsy air, ones complacent revcry was
liable to be rudely disturbed by one o1
these tremendous bombs falling from
the serenity above without the least
premonition. If he escaped to tell OF
the incident it was related as mere
ordinary, everyday affair, that was all
What may seem to the civilian a strange
and extravagant 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 arc
devoid of the credulity begotten of ex
perience, who are apt to manifest thei,
apprehension that the narrator draws
the long bow with reckless disregard