The Forrest City times., 1893-07-28

Wnlle enpdveu III COuVeTSdJlOu 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 cers. One might shield himself behind breastworks against musket shot, can non balls and shell, but only the recess of 8 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- yond 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 the 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 a strange and extravagant narration, to the vet eran is commonplace, without novelty or interest. That is why, perhaps, old soldiers 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 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 it's breath. Then from gulch at some distance came dull, muffled 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. A poor devil had somehow impressed his commanding officer with the belief that he was a coward. do not remember, if I ever heard. the particu- lars At any rate, he was being tried by drumhead court-martial Tn this out ofthe-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. It had been forgot ten, if it had been made a matter of even passing remark. THe general was djctating to his adjutant general. Aids and clerks were all busy, when sudden ly an apparition appeared before them. It was evidently a soldier, but bare headed, his hair and face begrlmed with powder and so covered with thick dust that, saturated with reeking 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 it was covered with dirt and to all appearances fresh- ly torn into shreds. His audacity in appearing in such plight before the general and his staff without even ask ing permission was the first wonder, but when he did so with the exclama- tion: II am no coward, general! sur prise gave way to the indulgent inn pression, another poor fellow gone daft, perhaps affected bT the heat"
 Well, who said you were? What do you want here? See to him, adjutant," quickly spoke the general and again turned to his work
 What is the matter, sir? Don't you know better than to intrude yourself this way in the presence of the gen. eral?" asked the aid. Speak up at once. sir"
 II am no coward, don't want to be shot for coward" the poor fellow con- tinued pleadingly What am to do?' he asked, wiping the trickling grime and mud from his face and forehead with the remnants of the sleeve of his old woolen shirt Then, more compos- edly, he related how he was being tried for cowardice by a court-martial down the gulch over there;' how d tremen- dous mortar shell had dropped, explod- ing and interrupting the proceedings, knocking him over, tearing his cloth ing, mutilating his body to some extent, and had left him half dead and half buried how he had come to, and, look ing about, could see no one of the off ccrs before whom he was at the time being tried for his life; and SO he had come to the general to ask what he should do and to tell him he wa, no coward. A hurried in- vestigation proved the truth of the poor fellows story. The shell had exploded in close proximity to the court, but the