The suburban citizen., 1901-11-23
DuHbIE 'Dg8RrtgF.
A War Romance That Began in Sweden
and Ended on a Federal Scafold.
BY MAJ. GEORGE F. WILLIAMS.
r n all wars the crime Of desertion
BY MAJ. GEORGE F. WILLIAMS.


T n all wars the crime of desertion
is the most detested among sol
diers, and offenders seldom es-
cape the penalty of death called
for by military law, when an army is
on duty in the field, and in the pres
ence Of an enemy. There were more
executions for this Offense in the Fed
eral Army in the Civil War than one
not familiar with its inside history
would credit. Most of these deserters
Were men who, belonging to the Grim
inal classes, took to bounty jump
ing" as a change from burglary and
pocket picking. But there were a few
instances where deserters were i'm
PEELED to leave their colors by motives
which lent an air Of romance to the
fate they risked.
When General Sheridan began his
famous operations in the Shenandoah
Valley, during the month Of August,
1864, he was reinforced by two di-
visions of cavalry, led by Generals
Wilson aud Merritt, part of the Nine
teenth Corps under General Amory,
and all of the Sixth Corps, commanded
by General Wright. Having crushed
Early's forces in the battles of Win
chester and Cedar Creek the latter
being the scene of Little Phils" IA
nous ride, the Sixth Corps returned
to the lines of the Army of the Po-
tomac, which was still pressing the
siege of Petersburg, Va, thus holding
Lee in leash.
While the Sixth Corps was in the
Shenandoah Valley, three men Of for
eign birth deserted from a Pennsyl-
vania regiment and entered the Con-
federate lines. Announcing a willing
ness to enlist under the Southern flag
these misguided men only stipulated
that they be sent to some other point
in the field Of hOstilities. Their re-
quest being considered a reasonable
one, they were transferred to General
Gordon's division, then fighting in the
Confederate trenches that defended
the city Of Petersburg.
In October, 1864, the United States
Government offered pardon and i'm
munity to all Confederate soldiers who
would surrender and take the oath
of allegiance. Copies of the announce
ment to that effect were scattered
throughout General Lees lines by
means of kites, trigger attachments
releasing the bundles of papers in
midair.
Among the first to embrace this offer
were the three Sixth Corps men, who
thus hoped to escape military service
and hardship. Unfortunately for them
the Sixth Corps had meanwhile ar
rived in General Meade's lines, and
their own regiment happened to be
on guard over the "deserters' cOrral'
when they came through the lines.
Being at once detected, all three were
placed in strict confinement, tried by
court-martial, and sentenced to be
hanged, soldiers death by bullet be-
ing denied them, because Of their en-
listment in the Confederate service.
Three days before the one fixed for
their execution l was surprised by the
receipt Of a note from the officer com
mandng the Sixth Corps provost
guard, requesting me to call at his
quarters. On my arrival l learned
that one Of the condemned men wished
to see me in private.
Shaczled hand and foot, the prisoner
was led, stumbling into a tent that
was surrounded by sentinels, and per.
mission was given me to enter. The
man who was to suffer a shameful
death was fine specimen Of manhood
and it was difficult to conceive how
he could have been induced to take
such awful risks.
II have a favor to ask Of you, SIR
he began in a low, modulated voice.
81 know there is no hope for nae; but,