The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1897-06-02
Tragedy of the Civil War-An unmarked

Grave.
On the farm Of Mr.. w. B. Sin
gletary, near Tar Heel, Bladen
county, \. c., is an unmarked
grave, whichscontains tile remains
OF Union soldier, shot By hi-
own men, shortly after the close
OF the civil war. The facts, as
gathered from those still living
who witnessed the tragedy, and |
stamped the experience indelibly
upon their minds, are as follows
1t was on bright and crispy
Sabbath morning in the spring of
1868, and the people in the neigh
borhood Of Tar Heel were assem-
bled at the Presbyterian church
for public worship. The war ha1
been declared over, and every
thing had been so quiet and peace
full, that all suspicion of danger
from the late foe was allayed, and
there seemed no longer need of
unvarying vigilance.
But bark suddenly the reverie
of serenity is dispelled, as a coll
ored courier arrives at tie little
church in breathless haste, and
announces that squad Of nine
soldiers was at the home Of Mr..
Henry Mutt, about a mile and Il
half away, ransacking tie prem
ises for fine wines and valuables of
silver, known to be in possession
of the family.
In an instant every one was
upon his feet, Almost a panic
ensued and the services came alb.
ruptly to a close. Hurriedly, a
consultation WAS held among the
men, and deciding upon a plan of
action, Col. Byrne, valiant Com
federate officer, who was always
will ing to risk his life if there
was recompense for the courage,
selected few brave men who had
recently served in the war, and
lost no time in repairing to the
scene of reported danger.
Arrived at Mr.. Nuts, the men
came to halt little to the left
of the grove and made a careful
survey before venturing further,
for brave soldiers are naturally
cautious as we'll as suspicious, and
Col. Byrne was not the officer to
| leadhis men into trap. The
place looked as if it were de
erted. The surroundings wer,
quiet and peaceful as any i'm
agination could picture, and Ger
tainly nothing could be seen thai
indicated the presence of the enc
my. However, Col. Byrne deci
ded to invest gate. Just as h,
and his nlen reached the entranc
Of the broad avenue leading to tn
4 handsome residence, a mounted
sentinel on duty, gave a shril
signal of alarm and the next mo
q ment several ''blue jackets,
armed to the teeth, emerged fror
an office on the left of the var
and stood OH the porch prepare,
to defend themselves to the death
Col. Byrne at once led his men to
: ward the spot, and ordered them
hold themselves in readiness fo
. any emergency. Scarcely a doz
: en- steps had they advanced whe
2 there was sudden report, bi
: of curling smoke, and Col. Byrn
t fell MORALLY wounded. Then til
firing became general, and in til
! midst of the conflict, one of til
! "bummers" (for such they were
: walked up to DR.. Sykes, and co,
: ering him with his cooked pisto
relieved him Of his gold watch an
p chain and put it on his own pc,
son, then turning shot him twic,
seriously but not fatally, and LEI
him for dead.
: News Of the occurrence sprea
n rapidly, but when reinforcement
E arrived, three Of the four men ha
made good their escape, takir
y with them a beautiful and val,
: able horse which belonged to OF
s of the Southern soldiers, al
leaving in its stead a naggard O
army mule.
The man left behind had T
# ceived a dangerous wound and h
: comrades had carried him aw;
70 from the scene Of the struggle
IS hope that he too might be able
y escape But his wound was. mo
II serious, than they at;first suppos
p. and the loss of blood had told he
Willy upon him, SO their effort to g
:. him away proving unsuceessfl
al they decided to leave him IN
1T negro cabin near by, while tn
r. looked to their safety.
h. The next day the affair W
- promptly reported to the Fedel
" commander in charge, with hes
ID quarters at Fayetteville, 25 mi
he distant, and in a short time a {
ed tachment Of ten Union soldie.
ra llnQ6T COIllHllllu VI IjlVuC. DIN
(member of some Pennsylval
'ie regiment), was ordered to I
IN neighborhood where the wound
n, soldier was housed, and with
m life made to pay the penalty
DIV his misdoing.
OF A few minutes before he v
: shot, he was asked if he had al
~ thing to say, or any message
IRE those at home. He said that
-ly far as he, himself, was concerl
he he did not care, but his regr
od were for his mother, whom
- loved and to tell her that dr.
e. and evil associates had led b
~ ~ astray and brought him to his II
'e- cradle end" He asked no quart
el f He expected none. He knew
" memorable penalty attending
eli violation of the iron-clad rules