The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1894-10-27
1T CHANGED TWO LIVES.
A Pathetic Incident OF Gen. Brane's
Retreat.

A Pathetic Incident OF Gen. Bragg's
Retreat.
The 18th of December, 1868, was a
sad day to the confederate army. COM
manded by Gen. Bragg, in winter quar-
tiers around dalton, for on that day
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 they
had once belonged to, some had en-
listed as teamsters in the federal
army. and some were to be shot for
characterization. Among the number
was gallant little Charley Hudson, 4
beardlcss youth, but as brave a soldier
as ever went to the front. Wherever
the bullets flew thickest Charley was
TO be found, and in the charge on some
battery he always led: SO it was often
said that he bore q charmed life.
His father. who lived at q small sta
ton on the railroad, along which we
had retreated after the battle of Mis-
sionary ridge, was a very old man. He
was grcat union man, with no SYM
pathy for the southern cause.
The subject of Charley's joining the
confederate army had often been dis
cussed. The old gentleman at first
strongly opposed it, but finally, see
ing that his son was determined to go.
he gave his consent with one proviso:
If Gen. Bragg's army retreated beyond
their home he was to return. To this
Charley acceded, never for a moment
dreaming that such a 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 destitutc; so
70 hall 70 1,o <n1 sv>< 10
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 I eS-
pecte1 the sweetest roses. was de-
assigned to infiict the awful penalty
upon our former comrades-in-arms 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
sergeant and joined the group of Of
fcers who were standing in the rear
of the squads discussing the painful
duty each had to perform.
Hearing my name called. l turned
and was called one side by brother
tenant, whom you are to execute to-
iay?'
NO" I replied; "all can tell is
that I was assigned to No. 4. Can you
tell?:' I asked
Eyes," he answered. "No. is poor
Charley Hodson.'
( felt my legs giving way and I
should have fallen had he not caught
me. Instantly 1 recovered; then, for
the first time in many years, tears
came to my eyes and rolled down my
cheek.
It was appalling to give the COM
N and that would end the life of my
comrade and best friend, for I had
learned to love the boy as a brother;
he was SO kind, so gentle and so brave.
Capt c., of the - Tennessee
regiment. came up to me and asked
what the bad news was. 1 told him
and, like the gallant fellow that he
was. he offered to exchange places,
thou: ,h he knew it might cost him his
commission. We had no time to think,
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
then exchanged places.
In front of each squad stood stake
and a coffin, and as the line APP
preached each man was halted before
a coffin.
Just before they were to be bound
and blindfolded ! heard a voice say:
''Kiss Eugenia and my father for me,
and tell them that the last
tl,rob of this heart was an echo of my
love for Them
..Great Godr' exclaimed aloud. Il
didn't know it was you, Paul.
The next moment my mind had gone
back to a little more than q year be-
fore, when our army had been In Ten
nessee and Kentucky.
On that campaign I had met and
loved the most beautiful woman I Ind
ever seen. She was perfect in every
way. cultured min I, tender heart,
a loving disposition, and a form rs
perfect as was ever 9iven TO woman.