The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-12-29

ton Of the Secretary of War. and now
must return on foot or remain here
One of the soldiers contemptuously SUI
veyed him from head To foot as he stoo
| there with kid gloves, white bosom, stanC
ing collar, etc, in all the glory and finer
OF brainless fop. starched up for dis
play.
Well" said the soldier, I'VE don't kno,
any such individual as the Secretary ,
War out here. But guess we can fin
you something to do; perhaps you woul
take fancy to one OF these muskets.
laying his hand on pile beside him.
| The clerk turned away in disgust, an
disdaining to reply to the soldier, he in
CURED:
But where shall sleep to-night2'
The soldier replied. Just where 20,
please, chummy. there is lots of room al
around here, pointing Ia a spot OF groun,
which was not occupied by the wounded
a Chaplain stepped up to him ant
said, III you wish to sleep, there is sOm'
hay you can have" and went on to give
him a brief lecture upon tire impropriet,
OF a young man in perfect health. jus
fresh from the city, talking about com
Portable lodgings and place to sleet
when SO many wounded and dying lay al
around him. He was Mortified, and dis
appeared immediately.
A REBEL PROGRAM.
Before the rebels attempted tn cross
into Maryland in force the Richmond
papers were full of editorials, of which
the following is specimen
Let not blade of grass, or a stalk OF
corn, or a barrel of flour, or a bushel OF
meal, or sack of salt, or a horse, or a
cow, or hog, or a sheep be left wherever
the Confederate troops move along Let
vengeance be taken for all that has been
done, until retrbutiOn itself shall stand
aghast. This is the country of the would
be-gentleman Mcclellan. He has caused
a loss to us in Virginia of at least 30 CCf
negroes, the most valuable property that
n VIrgInian can own. They have no ne
gr0eS in Pennsylvania. Retaliation
therefore,, must fall upon something else.
a Dutch farmer has no negroes, hut ht
mas horses that can he seized. grain tia
can be confiScated, cattle that can be
Killed, and houses that can lie burned.
But when they really attempted to &C
compllshed these feats, and found will
whom they had to contend, they were
very glad to recross the Potomac withcu (
coniiscatug property or burning houses,
and to escape, leaving their dead ant
wounded on the field.
After the battle Of Antietam the army
was not in a cOnd ton to follow UP til
reteis; but as soon as the Car it, i wa
ale, and the reEeis were driven fron
Maryland and Pennsylvania. vigorous
Efforts were made to recruit. clCthe, ant
reorganize the army. Harrer's Ferry wa
again occupied every weak point strength
ened, and all the fords were strorgl
Guarded. While the army thus rename,
inactive for few weeks, camp duties ard
discipline were again strictly enforced.
would not have my reaCers think tia
camp-life in the army is so very unpleas
ant, after ALL / do not think 50, fer
save spent some OF the pleasantest, hap
9ieSt hours OF my lie in camp. and
think thousands can give the same tes-
Between all the calls, drills, and pa
rades were more interesting services ant
duties. Away in enc corner OF the cam.
y as our canvas or log meeting house ant
hesides our regular preaching we had cor
erence ard prayer meetings, debatin'
clubs, military lectures, and numerou:
entertainments.
Then came visiting the sick in dif
rrert hosritah, r'~trif' ts~'a - -
matter and delicacies, and the blessed
often the solemn services in connection
with burying the dead. | will here give
brief description of this service:
MILITARY EXECUTION.
About this time one of those horrihl
and soui-revoting sights, a military exc
cution," took place; in other words,
soldier was shot in cold blood by his col =
rades. | did not witness the executio +,
it occurred within short dia
lance OF camp, and give the particular
r latin2 to il from f. record OF the Chap
t4in who attended the unhappy man
the place Of execution.
ga painful episode, the first of the kind
have Witnessed, took place last FRIDAY.
1t was military execution. The person
thus punished belonged to the Sd Md.
which is in our division. On Tuesda,
last his sentence was formally read
aim. He was to be shot to death VII
nusketry on the next Friday, between t. e
hours OF noon and four in the afternoo
lie had learned the decision on the Sll
lay before.
'"rhe day of his execution was wet arr
,leomy. That morning, in the midst
,fe provost-guard. he was sitting on a BIZ {
If grain, leaning against tree, while
sentry with fixed bayenet stood behind
never turning away from him, save q.
mother took his place. Useless SCENE
he watch, for arms and feet had bee
though not painfully, since til
sentence was read.
"The Captain of the Guard had hu
namely done all he could, and it wa.
'artly by his request that was there. !
Chaplain could minister where other |
you'd not be allowed. The rain fell 81 |
emily on him; the hours of his life wer
numbered, even the minutes. He was t |
meet death, not in the shock and excit@
nent of battle, not as martyr for his /
ountry, not in disease, but in full healtl +,
nd as criminal.
81 have seen many man die, and
ave tried to perform the sacred t.Lties
ny station never had SO painful IA tasi
S this, because of these circumstances
gladly, he conversed, h, ard
nd answered. While such a work i,
ainful, yet it has it's bright side, be
ause of the exceeding great and preciou.
romises' it is ones privilege to tell.
THE DEATH.
"When the time came for removal t.
he Place Of execute he entered an
the Gu; II il accompanying
i'm. Next, in another ambulance, wa
he coffin; before, behind, and on eiths
ide a guard Half mile of this s..
,urney brought him within short dis
lnce OF the spot. Then, leaving the am