The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-08-01
SAVED BY A BOMB.
How a Civil War Court Martial
Was Suspended.

union line defenSeS had been pulVerlZed
by transportation teams, light artillery,
siege trains and the feet of the soldiers
so that wherever one went it was wad-
ing through 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
fiery furnace. 1t was hot as the breath
of cannon and heavy with powdered
soil and whitening vapors. 1t was the
oppressive, almost intolerable atmos-
phere of a 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 a 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 veritable paradise to those priv
LEGGED 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 breathing spell. Here they
were won't 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 a court-martial incident this
story relates. Courts-martial in the
terrible days of the war were as fire.
quent as casualties and dire as the ele-
ments of destruction. They were 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
gulcn on an isolated declivity. This
simultaneous defamation carried its
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
Que SdVCQ Ilc JlttAC anu tAOAOAC Va hoAA6
ing. No one who has had 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 sharp
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 injustice 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
a shining anaconda and was designated
as Fort He'll His errand was with
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 pillow 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
breastworks against musket shot, can
non balls and shell, but only the recess
of gopher hole or 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-
vond reach of the whiz and
whirr of shot and shell, the blue sky
above scarcely visible through the
mirky air. ones complacent revery was
liable to be rudely disturbed by one of
these tremendous bombs falling from
tie serenity above without the least
premonition. If 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 strange
and extravaganza narration, to the vet
eran is commonplace, without novelty
or interest. That is why, perhaps, old
,oldiers who love to talk of the war to
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 their
apprehension that the narrator draws
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 siege or a 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 to
catch its breath. Then from gulch at
some distance came dull, mutfied ex-
plosion. and cloud of smoke and dust
rising showed that mortar shell from
the siege batteries of the enemy had
fallen and exploded. That was all,
and that was all anyone thought about
it. But it happened at that spot and at
that moment drum head court-martial
was sitting. poor devil had somehow
impressed his commanding officer with
the belief that he was coward. ldonot
remcmb Der, il | ever heard, the particu-
lars At any rate, he was being tried
by drumhead court-martial IN this out
of-the-way place on the charge of cow
ardice. OF course the the penalty, If
convicted, was death. A few minutes
had passed since the explosion of the
artificial aerolite. II had been forgot
ten. If it had been made matter of
even passing remark The general was
debating to his adjutant general Aids
and clerks were all busy, when sudden
ly an apparition appeared before them.
1t was evidently .. soldier, but bare
headed, his hair and face begrimed
with powder and so covered with thick
dust that, saturated with reelxing per
spiration, it ran into mud and gave
him the appearance of wild Indian.
The hue of his clothing had evidently
once been blue, but 1t was covered
with dirt and to all appearances fresh
lv torn into shreds. His audacity In
appearing In such plight before the