Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-01-19
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
HANGED FOR a SPY.
A sad Tale of One of the Many Tragedies
of the War.


1t Is IL o'clock on winters night
and a cavalryman on picket hears
suspicious sound in the leafess bushes
on mis- right He had hardly spoken
when the echo comes back to him from
the post below.
Halt Who goes there?"
The figure of man suddenly rises
above the low bushes. A quick dash to
ne south might save him, but he hest
tates, and it is too late He is in federal
uniform. He has passed the camp
sentinels-he is skulking through the
woods-he has planned TO desert TO the
enemy Five minutes after his capture
he Is at the reserve and ten minutes
later he is on his way back to camp.
And why should he seek to desert his
hag-to cover his memory for all time
with a stain worse than murder? He
is growing IN years. but evidently
veteran in war. They question him,
hoping he may exculpate himself, but
he refuses to answer He is left in care
of the provost guard, and it is not until
daylight comes again that other ques-
tions are put to him. He maintains
silence Then they charge him with
being spy. His face pales at the word.
but he has nothing to say. He refuses
to give his name or name his command.
He Is still obstinate when taken to
headquarters He is pale and anxious,
but refuses to open his lips Later on,
when pat on trial for his life before
court-martisa. he still pursued a policy
he had decided on from the frst AS a
- \
ware exousos-have some sort of de-
fsnse The verdict might be imprison-
ment, but 1t would not be death. AS
spy he will surely suffer the fate of
spies Then why not speak, name his
captain, indemnity himself, and ask the
court to be meroiful
Never word from him throughout
the TRIAL. Every captain in the division
was called up to identify him, but none
could place him. The charge had to be
that of spying and the verdict had to be
death. In the field, convicted by drum
head court-martial, he would have been
shot within 3 few hours. Here in win
ter quarters there was plenty of time
10 prepare q gsllows When informed
OF the verdict no caught his breath like
one seiEed with sudden gain, and there
was twitohinG of the muscles around
the mouth. Thirty seconds later he
had regained control of himself
It was a week before he was led out
TO die. After the findings of courts
martial had been returned approved"
they gave him two days to prepare him
self for eternity. Tho mockery of it
was cruel Men who know that their
hours on earth are numbered can not
absolve their souls of sin. The spy felt
that 1t was mockery, and he waved the
chaplains away.
All hangings under military law are
at sunrise A company had been de-
tailed to see the order carried out; a
sergeant's guard to act as escort 1t
was clear, frosty morning and day
light seemed to come slowly. The con-
eemned man was mp and dressed and
waiting. He was pale faced, but there
was a look of resolution in his eye
which was glad to see. He would die
game. A chaplain had come in with
me- The spy waved him out and turned
his back, that his elbows might be
bound
He saw the gallows long before we
reached it, but his face betrayed no
emotion. March! march! march! Only
a soldier could have marched to the
beat of the muffied drum going to his
death. We reach the foot of the gallows
at last. The spy looks up and calmly
surveys the structure and the dangling
moose He is assisted up the rude
ladder to the trap. A chaplain kneels
on the rough boards and offers pray
and then a hush falls upon the assem-
blags Thank God that my orders were
fully crrried out when had delivered
ny prisoner on the sea fold! The hang
man awaits US. He is = volunteer from
some guard house and will be paid
few dollars in money at headquarters
You have n message for some one,
and will deliver it," whispered in the
prisoners car as his ankles were being
tied.
Yes, a message to Col -, of the
til, - infantry. He will tell my
friends Get word to him that died in
the line of duty. Thank you-good-
byg'
From the hour of his capture to the
moment of his death these were the
only words he uttered He had scarcely
spoken them when the hansman pulled
the black cap over his face, stepped to
the lever, and two seconds later the
trap fell with crash and the body was
dangling in the air, 1t was only after
peace came that ! could deliver the
message.
''Ah, poor Dick sighed the colonel
when l had finished. Hung for a spy,
and yet he was not spy lie entered
your lines to try to find a brother of his
who had deserted and bring him back
to duty. That and nothing more. The
brother came back to us-poor Dick
died on the gallows!" Times
LEES FLAG OF TRUCE
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