The National tribune., 1898-09-08

TO understand that when / returned from the
field with honors she would reward me with
herself
The intoxication of this hope made me
oblivious o! all else, and / marched gladly
to the field when the orders came. But we
had been in camp scarcely two months when
| read in 4 Nashville paper the notice of her
marriage to one OF her admirers-the son OF
4 neighbor.ng pianteT-a young hOlhead who
had taken the first company Of cavalry from
Tennessee TO the front in Virginia, and to
whom, ] have since found ont, she was en-
gagged when she was plying all her arts to
recruit me for the cursed cause Of the rebel
lion
Gould have met her and her husband, !
am certain | should have killed them both
and then committed suicide, but they left
Immediately for Richmond that he might be
nearer his regiment.
Duped and betrayed as ! was, had still
too much respect for my oath to the Southern
Confederacy TO desert tine flag had sworn to
uphold, and so i continued in the service
loathing it and myself more intensely every
day. / firmly resolved that / would not sur
vive the first battle we went into and you
see now that | am keeping my resolution. !"
" But how did you come to get hit?"
asked Bronson.
alt was easy enough to get hit almost any,
where about this place Yesterday" said Mar
ston with the faint glimmer Of smile; but
when | knew that there was to be q desperate
sOrtie made on your right yesterday morning
asked for and obtained the privilege OF lead
ing the attack. They thought was trying
to make up for my Northern birth and my
hesitation at the beginning of the war, by
showing the zeal of a recent convert.
AT daybreak yesterday morning | march
ed out at the head of my company as eagerly
as bridegroom going to his bride | had
laid my plans well. j went as far as possible
in advance of my company that | might be
seen and shot down before | would be com
PEELED to give the order to my men TO fire.
They all thought was brave. They did not
imagine i was desperate.
As we felt our way through the thick
woods, ] heard the Union troops forming for
roll-call. / recognized the voice Of the officer
giving commands. 1t was my own brother
Tom / almost tainted, and heard some OF
my men say that they believed was going to
show the white feather, This reused me, and
we moved cautiously ahead again.
never prayed so earnestly for anything as
did that Tom might discover our presence
of q hundred ways to warn him. Finally,
as my excitement had become too great for
me any longer to master IL, ] shouted an
order TO my men at the top OF my voice.
Toms men heard me, and running to their
arms began firing at the same time we did.
. ] was struck down, as expected, but in
stead of getting a bullet through the head, as
/ ardently desired ] was wounded twice
through the stomach, but before ! fell was
agonized to see nay brother Tom fall with a
bullet in his heart Were it not for that |
could die now in the most perfect peace,
since ] know that through you my father
and mother will know enough to make them
forgive me for all, because / have atoned for
all. Good-by."
He turned his face away from the ligh,
and was silent They waited some minutes
for him to begin again. He did not and
Bronson, leaning over, looked into his face
and saw that he was dead.