The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-09-28
LIFE WAS CHANGED
a Pathetic Incident Of Gen. Bragg's
Retreat.

The 18th Of December, 1863, wa.
sad day to the confederate army, con-
handed by Gen Bragg, in winter qua,
ters around Dalton, for on that da
thirteen men who at one time be
longed to that army had been sen
fenced to be shot.
Some had been caught BY our cav
airy fighting against the army the
had once belonged to, some had en-
listed as teamsters in the fedora
army, and some were to be shot fo
characterization. Among the numbel
was gallant little Charley Hudson.
beardless youth, but as brave soldier
IS ever went to the front Wherever
the bullets few thickest Charley wa.
20 be found, and in the charge on some
battery he always led: SO it was otter
said that he bore q charmed life.
His father, who lived at small sta
lion on the railroad, along which we
nad retreated after the battle OF Mis-
Iionary ridge, was very old man. He
was great union man. with no sym
pathy for the southern cause.
The subject of Charley's joining the
confederate army had often been dis
sussed. The old gentleman at frst
strongly opposed it, but finally, see
ing that his son was determined to 60,
ne gave his consent with one proviso:
II Gen. Braggs army retreated beyond
their home be was to return. To this
Charley acceded, never for a moment
dreaming that such thing would
happen. But the army did leave his
home behind, and, true to the VOW he
had made to his father, he returned
home.
He found that everything had been
destroyed and his people destitute; SO
to help them to live he enlisted in the
federal army as a teamster, as he
thought in that capacity he would not
have to fight his old comrades.
That act changed my whole life, and
caused thorns to grow where 1 ex-
pected the sweetest roses. / was de-
tailed to command one of the squads
assigned to inflict the awful penalty
upon our former comrades-in-arrns on
that fatal 18th of December We
were ordered to be at the place of exc
cution promptly at twelve o'clock.
The whole army had been ordered
out to witness the shooting of these
men, SO, after placing my detail in
front of No. 4, / turned it over to the
sergeant and joined the group Of of
ficers who were standing in the rear
of the squads discussing the painful
duty each had to perform.
Hearing my name called, . turned
and was called one side by brother
officer, who said: do you know. heu-
tenant, whom you are to execute to-
day?"
NO" I replied; call 1 can tell is
that was assigned to No. 4. Can you
tell?'' 1 asked.
YES" he answered. "No. is poor
Charley Hodson."
[ felt my legs giving way and I
should have fallen had he not caught
me. Instantly / recovered; then, for
the first time in many years, tears
came to my eyes and rolled down my
cheek.
1T was appalling to give the COM
mand that would end the life of nv
L
learned to love the boy as brother;
he was SO kind, so gentle and SO brave
Capt C, of the - Tennessee
came up to me and asked
what the bad news was l told him
and, like the gallant fellow that he
was, he offered to exchange places,
though he knew it might cost him his.
We had no time to think,
for at that moment we heard the |
strains OF the dead march and look }
Ing mp saw the condemned men ap-I
preaching.
We ran hurriedly to our details, /
told the sergeants of the change, and .
then exchanged places.
In front of each squad stood stake /
and coffin, and as the line ap-
preached each man was halted before
/ coffin.
Just before they were to be bound
and blindfolded heard voice say:
Kiss Eugenia and my father for me,
lieutenant, and tell them that the last
.hrob of this heart was an echo Of my
owe for them"
Great God!' ] exclaimed aloud. 81
.ldn't know it was you, Paul"
The next moment my mind had gone
,ack TO little more than a year be-
ore, when our army had been in Ten
lessee and Kentucky.
On that campaign I had met and
owed the most beautiful woman | had
ger seen. She was perfect in every
way. A cultured min l. tender heart.
loving disposition, and a form as
'arfal'h as was arsr given to woman.
she had soft, dreamy black eyes, ana.
when excited. they were brighter than
he dewdrop on the rose.
| visited her home often and was al
Ways welcomed with sunny smile;
ut time passed rapidly and soon orders
anne for US TO prepare to march-the
cry thing dreaded.
left camp and went to pay my last
isit to her with a heavy heart.
Sitting in the shadow of large ar
or VITAE tree, with her hands in mine,
told her of my love. 1t was needless.
hough, for me to have spoken one ,
-ord of that love, for she knew it long
efore. ,
For q moment she hesitated, and
then told her OF our orders to move
nd possibly this would be our last :
Getting until the strife was over. I;
That seemed 10 decide it. for. look
e up into my face, she said: 1T is 9
seless to tell You of my love for you. ;
II You must know that it is as true :
Id pure as ever woman gave to
an" 9
Reaching up to branch OF the tree p
lder which we were sitting, she o
,lled tiny sprig and gave il TO me. :