Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1894-09-20
III CHANGED TWO LIVES.
4 Pathetic Incident Of Gen Bragzs
Retreat

Retreat
The 18th OF December. 1873, was q
sad day to the confederate army. com
handed by Gen Bragg. In winter quar-
ter. around Dalton, for on that day
thirteen men who at one time be-
logged 20 that army had been ser
fenced 20 be shot.
Some had been caught by our cav
alry fighting against the army they
had once belonged 70. some had en-
listed q. teamsters in the federal
army. ana some were 10 be shot for
characterization Among the number
was gallant little Charley Hudson.
b~srdless youth. bat a. brave a soldier
a. ever weat to the front Wherever
the bullets few thickeSs Charley was
20 be found. aad in the charge on some
battery he always led; so it was often
sad that be bore = charmed life
Hin father. who lived a. a small sta
tioz on the railroad along which we
had retreat-4 after the battle OF Ms
sioHAry ridge. was a very Old MAJ He
was great union MAJ. with no SYN
patty for the soatheru cause
The subject % Charieys joinizz the
confederate army had often been dis
ruSsed The old gentleman AZ Erss
stroRsly opposed IL. but snalIy. see
inx saA; his son was determined to "a.
he gave his eonseut with one p-ovi>o.
II Gen- Bragg army reiterated beyoz5
their hone be was % return To thES
Charley aeeeded. never FOR a mou.nt
dreaming tina; sacA |. thing woaI1
happen Bat the Grruy did leave his
hone behind. and. true 20 the vo< be
had made 70 his father. he returned
hone
lie found that everything had been
destroyed and bis people destitute, -
70 help them 70 live he enlisted IN the
federal army a. . teAms:sr, "a he
thought in that capacity he would zos
have - axh; his old comrades
That &C; changed ny whole life. aud
caused thOrus 70 grow where ! ax-
Pect~d the sweetest roses was de-
tailed TO command one OF the squads
assigned 20 inaict the awful penalty
upon our former comrades-ta-arns on
that fatal 18th % December We
were ordered 70 be a. the place % exc
eutiou promptly at twelve o'clock.
The whole army had been oriered
out TO witness the shooting OF these
men, 20. after placing my detail in
front of No = I turned II over 70 the
sergeant and Joined the group Of Of
fieers who were standing in the rear
OF the squads discussing the painful
duty each had 70 perform
Hearing my name called, turned
and was called one side by brother
officer, who said; DO you know. Ileu-
tenant. whom you are TO execute to-
day.
No | replied; all | can tell is
that ! vas assigned to No. 4 Can you
SIP" asked
Yes. he answered No. : is poor
Charley HOdsou"
/ felt my legs giving way and |
should have fallen had be not caught
me Instantly | recovered: then, for
the first time in many years. tears
came to my eyes and rolled down my
cheek
IL Was appalling 70 give the com
nand that would end the life of my
eomrade and best friend. for had
learned to love the boy as brother;
he was 50 kind, SO gentle aud so brave
Capt c.. Of the - Tennessee
regiment came up TO me aud asked
what the bad news was told him
and, ike tho gallant fellow that he
was. he offered 20 exchange places.
though ne knew it might cost him his
commission We had no time TO think,
E for at that moment we heard the
strains Of the dead march and look.
ing up saw the condemned men ap-
preaching.
We ran hurriedly TO our details,
told the sergeants OF the change. and
thea exchanged places
In front Of each squad stood a stake
and = sofar. and "a the line ap-
I preached each man was halted before
= cotin-
just before they were to be bound
and blindfolded heard q voice say:
Kiss Eugenis and nv father for me,
lieutenant, and tell them tina; the las,
throb OF this heart was an echo of nv
love for them
treat Cod exclaimed aloud. II
didn't know It was you. Paul
The next moment nv mind had gone
back 20 little more than a wear be.
Fore, when our army had been in Ten.
rsssee and Kentucky.
On that campaign had met and
loved the most beautiful woman had
ever seen She was perfect in every
way. A cultured min I. tender heart
a loving disposition. and a form a.
Perfect as was ever given to woman.
She had soft, dreamy black eyes, and
when excited they were brighter than
.he dewdrop on the rose.
visited her home often and was a.
ways welcomed with . sunny smile
out time passed rapidly and soon order.
came for as to prepare to mareh-the
very thing dreaded
left camp and went 10 pay my las,
visit 20 her with a heavy heart
sitting In the shadow of a large ar.
Dor vita tree, with her hands in mine.
told her Of my love II was needless.
though, for me TO have spoken one
word of that love. for she knew il long
/ before
For a moment she hesitzted. and
then told her Of our orders to move
and possibly this would be our las,
meeting until the strife was over
That seemed TO decide it. for. look
ing up into ny face. she said: 1T is
useless TO tell Jon o, my love for you,
for you must know that il is as true
and pure as ever . woman gave e
man
Reaching up to branch of the tree
under which we were sitting. she
pulled tiny sprig and gave il to me,
saying; That tree is green as long as
tod permits it to live II IS green for
ever. and 50 shall my love for Won be.
on1y ee - trae % ne - shall be 10