The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-08-29
the eaioeoRooMs DISCRETION.


ssu ms IASorlte lieutenant as 1t was told
to me, said Capt. Ross, an old resident
Of Erie, who moved there from Pittsburg
at the time Anthony Wayne died and
was personally acquainted with the facts.
We all know from history that Gen.
Wayne was one of the bravest and most
daring soldiers of the Revolution, and
rs an Indian fighter: had scarce his equal.
He did not know the meaning of the
word fear and as disciplainarian he
was terror to all who were under him.
Among the young officers on his staff the
one he liked best was fsir-haired youth
of "A years, to whom he had given leave
of absen CO to visit his bride, to whom he
had been married but few days when
he received marching orders.
He was a great favorite with Gen.
Wayne who sent him away buoyantly
happy with the permission to remain
forty-eiRht hours with the object of his
affection. At the expiration Of that
time he was to report promptly for
duty. He started on his short journey
with hearty good wishes and oongratu-
lations of the otherl less favored officers,
who. although they might envy him,
did not grudge him the forty eight hours
freedom from duty, nor the happiness
before him. 1t seemed long time, but
alas, how short 1t was
The bride, dainty little woman I'M
used to discipline of any kind, with
loving imperiousness SO bewitched the
heart and brain of the young husband,
the hours flew on uncounted, and the
Generals command to return in 4S
hours was unheeded, was actually for
gotten until four hours over The allotted
time. They had passed before the lieu
tenant realized he had disobeyed orders,
and he was about to return and sue for
pardon, trusting to his good standing
with the general to influence his grant
ing it. It was hope that showed how
little he knew Anthony Wayne. There
was not upon record time when mercy
was shown by him to one who set at
naught one of his commands. We're his
nearest, dearest friend to offend in that
way, while under military regulations,
he would meet out the full measure of
punishment without fiinching. No mat.
ter how palliating the circumstances,
nor how strongly his own heart plead for
the offender, the offense must be met
with the penalty laid down by the law.
Woefully ignorant of this. our young
hero was hopeful. He sincerely regretted
his thoughtlsss act Of disobedience, but
his only fear of punishment was that he
might be put under arrest for few days.
As be was bidding the little wife good
by and trying to reassure her that all
would be we'll with him, two stalwart
soldiers entered the door unannounned
and without further warning arrested
him as q deserter. GAS deserteri Mer-
ciful heavensl' exclaimed the lieuten-
ant, realizing In an instant the horror
Of all that meant.
81 am not deserter! Who has dared
TO accuse me as such?'
"Our orders are from headquarters,
SIR replied the sergeant, showing him u
paper, the warrant signed by Anthony
Wayne. The doomed man orazed with
The thought of what his fate would be,
looked about wildly for some chance of
escape, but the soldiers of Gen. Wayne
were too we'll trained to neglect their
duty or to even show the pity they felt
for the young man, whose ofense, SEEM
ingly SO slight must yet pay the penalty
of base deserter
The few brief hours of happiness had
cost them dear. What a sad, aye terri
Bile, ending of that short honeymoon.
The girlish bride. white with terror, yet
not realizing the awful SORROW before
her, was so sure that she could save her
husband from punishment were she to
plead for him with the general, who had
been 50 gracious to her when they met
that she could not believe him cruel.
Hastily saddling her own horse she had
followed close behind the soldie rs guard
Ing her husband, determined that moth
ing should prevent her having an inter-
view with Gen. Wayne.
Arriving at the fort she dismounted
and slipping past the guard before they
could prevent her, had forced her way
into the presence of the general. 1t was
said Of "Mad Anthony" that however
stern and unbending he might be with
his men, with women he was tender,
deferentiai and yielding. They could
not believe the stories about his cruelty,
and the little woman who stood before
him was not prepared for the. stern or.
der given TO the sentinel to escort this
lady to the outpost and then report for
LACK of duty at once" who has dared to
let her through the guards. "This Is no
place for you, madame, F" ne said more
gently, but throwing herself on her
knees before him, she pleaded as only a
loving woman can plead for the man
whose life is dearer to her than her own.
She might as well have appealed to a
rock as to Anthony Wayne, for although
every word she uttered stabbed him to
the heart, because he was fond of the
young lieutenant whose future had
seemed SO full of well-earned hope, yet
NO thought of granting the pardon in his
power entered the stern commanders
mind. In his estimation there could be
no reprieve for a soldier who wilfully OF
through careless disregard of orders had