The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-07-21

her son they took him before her very
| eyes and hanged him to a great tree
N the courtyard.
This was in October, 1861, and prob
ably at that very hour Joseph Stewards
was in the camp of Colonel Moore at
Louiza, only twenty miles distant. He
enlisted under Moore in the Eighteenth
Kentucky, and so it. was that in the
succeeding December he came in con-
tact with James A. Garfield when the
latter took command of the little army
which was to hold Kentucky to her
mooring in the Union. Like the Con-
federate, Colonel Williams, Garfield
conceived an enthusiastic admiration
for Stewards, had him often with him,
and entrusted him with some most inn
portant commissions. Garfield told me
that he had met very few men who
had his simple nobility of character;
that an hours talk with him was like
a chapter out of Homer or Virgil.
Stewards in GarfieId's Service.
Space will not permit even the most
casual notice OF the events of this
campaign, in which Garfield, with only
$500 men, sent Humphrey Marshall, at
the head of more than 5000, in the
space of a single fortnight, whirling
into Virginia. But directly after his
victory at Middle Creek, it was sup
posed by the Union commander that
Marshall had not yet left Kentucky.
1t was of the first moment to learn
his exact position, and to this end
Garfield dispatched q body of 100 cav
airy, under Captain Jenkins, with or
ders to go up the Big Sandy as far as
Piketon, and not to return till they
brought tidings of the enemy. With
this squad Stewards went as guide.
Proceeding cautiously along the mar
row road that skirts the river, the
squadron entered the scattered town
just as a half a dozen confederateS
were fastening from it in the oppo-
site direction. Catching sight of the
fugitives, Lieutenant Lake, of Woos-
ter. o., called to two of his men, and
followed at a breakneck pace for five
or six miles. During the pursuit they
killed one of the fugitives, and Sc
verely wounded another; but they kept
on, for a short distance in advance
were two others-one, evidently, a man
Of some consideration. The two were
mounted on one horse, and as they
turned a bend in the road they came
within short range of their purSuerS.
Private Boone, of the Forty-second
Ohio, being for the moment in adj
vance, levelled his carbine and fired
as he rode, but the bullet struck the
saddle and glanced off harmless. By
this time Lake was nearly abreast of
the fugitives, and drawing his revolver
he brought the horse to the ground
so suddenly, that the two riders were
thrown over the neck of the animal
and landed in the creek that Dor
dered the highway. When they re-
covered their feet they were prisoners.
Stewards Squares Accounts With
Cecil.
Stewards. seing the reckless daring
OF the little party, in pursuing more
than twice their number, had called
half dozen cavalrymen TO his aid,
and followed at an interval of about
five minutes. He came up with them
while Lake and his prisoners were
still standing in the highway. What
followed 1 had from the lips of an
eye witness. Refining up his horse
Stewards turned to the two Confeder-
ates-one' of whom. was Judge Cecil
and his eyes giving out a lurid
glare" he said suddenly: ''Ah. 1t is a
long road that has no end" Leaning
over his saddle bow he almost Kissed
the remainder, and at the end of
all roads there is retributiOn."
Cecils face grew livid, but with some
appearance of GOODNESS he said, 4 am
your prisoner; but am ready to take
the OATH"
Take the oathr' echoed Stewards.
do you expect to atone for your
crimes by a little false swearing? Do
you expect to live while there is tim
Der for gallOwS in all Kentucky?"
L do" answered Cecil, with a mock
ing smile. I expect to live and to
pass sentence on a good many more
scoundrelS."
Not while SO much sacred blood
cries from the ground against you"
cried Stewards.
Not another word was said, but there
was sudden upward movement of
Soward's hand, a sudden Shot, and
Cecil fell dead in the highway.
My God, SOwards," cried Lake.
What have you done? He was I'M
armed and prisoner"
A strange hgnt was in Soward's
eyes as he answered: $50 was an old
man he shot down on his own hearth
so was a young boy he hanged be-
fore the very eyes of his mother.
Blood viii have blood. This tworld
couldn't hold him and me- Lieuten-
ant-no! not this world nor any other"
I know, and 1 pity you. Sowards.''
said Lake, but the colonel will have
to hang you. Go-get away. Get
away at once. Not a man will lift a
hand against you
NO" answered Sowards; 81 shall
not run; will answer for what I have
done"
Then turning his horses head he led
Inc Column winch pore the lifeleSS |
body of Cecil back to Piketon. !
Soward's Trial.
The killing of Cecil was q, great en-
barrassment to the Union commander.
He was the leading man of the dis
trict His death would be known far
and wide. and if it went unpublished it
would show the people OF Kentucky
whom it was the policy Of the govern |
ment to pacify and conciliate-that no !
trust could be put in the friendly |
procession Of the Union, nor in Gar |
field himself, who had by procIama- |
ton, promised peace and protection to |
ali VINO observed the laws of the coun- I
try. On the other hand, Stewards had /
rendered important services TO the /
army, and had especially endeared /
himself TO Garfield, who had come to /
regard him more as a friend than as
a subordinate. His inclination WouId !
lead him to liberate Stewards, but both |
duty and policy required that he |
should be tried; and upon this latter
course Garfield at last decided, hoping /
the circumstances might lead to So I
wards acquittal
a court martial, composed mostly of |
Kentucky officers was convened. and /
was brought before it. /
1t was soon developed that the pros
ecution was about TO fail for lack of I
evidence. A half-dozen witnesses tes-
titled to hearing the discharge of the
revolver, and seeing Cecil fall dead in
the road, but could not, or would not.
tell who fired the fatal shot or 20