Arizona republican., 1894-10-06

battery he always led; so it was often said that he bore charmed life.
 His father, who lived at a small sta tion on the railroad, along which we had retreated after the battle of Mis- sionary 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 cussed. The old gentleman at first strongly opposed it, but finally, sec 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 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 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 ex- pected the sweetest roses. 1 was de- tailed to command one of the squads assigned to infict 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 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, I turned and was called one side by brother officer, who said: Do you know. leu tenant, whom you are to execute to- day?"
 "No," I replied; "all I can tell is that was assigned to No. 4. Can you uell! dSkeu.
 "Yes," he answered. "No. is poor Charley Hodson."
 1 felt my legs giving way and I should have fallen had he not caught me. Instantly I 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 mand that would end the life of my comrade and best friend, for I had learned to love the boy as 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. I told him and, like the gallant fellow that he was, he offered to exchange places, though 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 a stake and a coffin, and as the line ap- preached each man was halted before coffin.
 Just before they were to be bound and blindfolded l heard a voice say: ''Kiss Eugenia and my father for me, lieutenant, and tell them that the last throb of this heart was an echo of my love for them"
 Great God!'' l exclaimed aloud. q didn't know it was you, Paul"
 The next moment my mind had gone back to little more than a 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 had ever seen. She was perfect in every way. A cultured min l, tender heart, loving disposition, and form as perfect as was ever given to woman She had soft, dreamy black eyes, and, when excited, they were brighter than the dewdrop on the rose.
 Visited her home often and was al ways welcomed with sunny smile; but time passed rapidly and soon orders came for us to prepare to march-the very thing I dreaded.
 I left camp and went to pay my last visit to her with a heavy heart.
 Sitting in the shadow of a large ar bor vite tree, with her hands in mine, I told her of my love. It was needless, though, for me to have spoken one word of that love, for she knew it long before.
 For a moment she hesitated, and I then told her of our orders to move and possibly this would be our last meeting until the strife was over. That seemed to decide it, for, look ing up into my face, she said: Ut is useless to tell you of my love for you,