Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-03-29
not forward them in writing in the reg

no tapped his forehead with his finger.
II am sound Of mind and body"
"Well, we'll, colonel, what does It
all mean? It's too early in the morning
:or joking" and the general yawned.
II have to report that the spy left in
my charge has escaped and through my
:onnivance
Good Lord!" exclaimed the general.
THAT is q serious matter"
Maynard remained silent
"And the explanation"
There is none.
The general looked into the melan-
choly eye Of Colonel Maynard and felt
a cold chill creep over him. He knew
there was some reason for the act which
would explain if not excuse it.
"Colonel, you are dashing fellow.
with tinge Of romance in your nature.
trust you have not yielded to an ab-
surd notion as to taking the life Of q
woman.
mo hare not"
"Then give me some explanation. l
fear it will go hard with you, but will
do all can for you if you can give
satisfactory reason.
II have no reason to give.
"Of course I must report the matter.
Better speak now. 1t may be too late
hereafter.
II have reported the fact That is all
the report have to make"
"Then, colonel, it is my duty to or
der you to your tent under arrest. You
may leave your sword here with me, If
you please. An order will be issued
placing Colonel --, next in rank, in
charge of your brigade.
Colonel Maynard unlocked his sword
from his belt and handed it to the gen.
eral. Then he rode back to his tent, and
as he entered it he felt that he had left
his former self outside; that, as in the
case of fallen comrade, he would new.
er see this being of the past again. AS
for his present self, that, if suffered to
live, could only live life in death.
A court martial was convened to try
Colonel Maynard with as much dispatch
as had attended the trial of the escaped
woman The charge was "giving aid
and comfort to the enemy" the specifi
c;.SS:on "hinself aiding in the escape OF
a spy in the service of said enemy"
The court met on the afternoon Of the
day on which Maynard had reported his
act Men of his own grade, or near it,
sat about pine table in wall tent anil
proceeded with the formalities attend
ing the case. AS Maynard pleaded gull
ty to both charge and specification there
was little to do except to come to YER
dict. Before doing so the president ask
ed the accused if he had anything to
say in his behalf, any explanation tn
make.
No." was his reply.
Colonel Maynard, said the presi.
dent, "you have served this army with
distinction. You have been respected.
trusted, beloved as few other men i'll -.
You have confessed to having commit.
ted one of the most atrocious crimes
that car como under the jurisdiction of
q military court. Nothing can excuse
it. There may be something to palliatc
it. I conjuro you to speak before the
court beings in verdict and names
your punishment. "
Mr. President" replied Maynard,
"for my act toward this army am ac-
countable to you as court martial con-
vened to try me; for my act as one of
right or wrong, of honor Or dishonor, l
am accountable only to tribunal with
which you have nothing to do. Do not
waste valuable time. Before the sun
sets twice, if l mistake not. you will
have more important work to do in
the reception of the enemy. Do your
duty as q court, and do it with dis
patch.
There was not an officer present but
looked at Maynard with curious ad
miration. 1t was plain that he had sac.
rificed himself, though it was not en-
tirely plain why. Even those who con-
demned him most bitterly seemed to
hesitate to bring in verdict which
would naturally carry with it the pun
ishment of death.
"You are mistaken, colonel" said
one of them, referring to Maynard's
predictions. 1.-THE enemy have been in
full retreat ever since we left Murfrees-
boro. l only fear he's going to give us
the slip again.
II regret your confidence, sir" re-
piled Maynard. II am aware that 9th
ers feel as you do, and it is mistake
which will cost this army dear.
Nonsense. Haven't we'-
"This is not the place to discuss prob
lens for which only our commanding
general is responsible, )" interrupted the
president Let the prisoner leave the
court.
Maynard was led away, and the court
proceeded to consider verdict. There
was little time spent OH it, for there
was but one thing to do, and that was
to make it guilty of the charge and
guilty of the specification. Then be-
gan q discussion of the punishment.
One of the members stated that it was
personally known to him for fact that
the accused had one year before visited
Chattanooga as spy. when the place
was held by the Confederates, had been
captured, tried condemned and SEN