The National tribune., 1902-12-18

of desertions, and how to stop them, was
of foremost practical Importance to army
and to Government alike. Then there
was an endeavor to do at this late hour
what might have been done hopefully al
the first. AS check to the proffer of the
Confederate authorities, one corps com
mnnder issued an order, promising a fur
Tough of 30 days to any soldier who would
shoot comrade attempting to desert from
the picket line. AT least one substitute
soldier availed himself of this offer, shoot
| ing companion who had started to de-
| sert to the enemy, and then himself de-
serting while on honorary furlough.
1t had become u question Of checking
desertion or of having no army available
| for the prosecution of the war. The work
| of executing deserters had at least been
entered upon in desperate earnest. Men
were shot by twos and threes, in order to
make quick work Of it. At one time
SEW five from the same regiment shot side
by side with a single volley. No collins
were ready for them. They were wrap.
ped in their blankets, and buried where
they fell. When men attempted to shoot
those who would prevent their deserting,
they were hanged instead of being shot.
1t came to be a frightfully common ex-
perience with me to 60 out with man to
! the field where he was to be shot or
hanged; and the scenes of grief and de-
spair which was called to witness, when
such men were first told that they must
die within a few hours, are among the
most vivid and soul-harrowing of my army
| life.
SAD CHRISTMAS NIGHT MISSION.
| As sat writing in my cabin, before
Richmond, on Christmas night, 1864, dur
ing a severe storm, was started up about
| midnight by mounted Orderly with n
| note from Gen. Terry. The General said
he was sorry to call me out on such a
night, but he had just received orders to
| shoot deserter the next morning, and he
cOnld not bear to have the poor fellow bur-
| ried out Of the world without a word of
counsel or prayer; and therefore he had
sent for me to come and see him, knowing
would be glad to do what / could in
such case.
Out in the darkness and storm l went
from my cabin, to plow through the mud,
and to stumble over fallen trees, and to
grope my way among the gaunt pines TO
division Headquarters. The signs of
Christmas, still evident, were in sad con-
trast to the thoughts which oppressed me,
as 1 turned from the brightly-Ighted quar-
ters of the General, while a band was
serenading him, and found my way to
Ia gloomy log-hut, not yet rooted in,
where the condemned deserter was wait.
| ing the hour Of his death.
The poor fellow seemed now daZed, now
craZed. By turns he was sure it was a
mistake, and that he. could not be un-
der sentence of death, and that, if
he was, he would be pardoned or re-
prieyed, and that il he must die he would
''die like a man." Then he would cry out
in bitterness OF soul against his LOT, de-
| claring that his spirit would haunt and
persecute, as long as they lived, all who
had had a part in his condemnation.
Gradually l brought to him cidmer view
of his situation, and induced him to tell
| me how he came into this state.
He had originally volunteered in n New
England regiment, and he had shown him
| self brave, true soldier until he was dis
charged for ill-health. Regaining his
strength after a time, he had volunteered
| in another regiment: but, being debauched
by the prevalent sentiment in favor Of
"bounty-jumping" and deserting, he de-
serted his new command in order TO join
(, the army as a substitute under an as
sumed name. Being unexpectedly assigned
to regiment near the one from which
he had deserted, he was recognized while
on duty, at the front, and arrested as a
deserter, and was now TO die for his crime
under his assumed Substitute name.
| His chief concern was for the members
Of his family, who would suffer hopeless
ly in his loss. He had come from pa
triotic home. He was Of a worthy an
cestry. He was engaged to be married
to young lady of position and character.
He was, indeed, personally, loyal and pa
triotic at heart. He had been exceptional
ly courageous and faithful while in SER
vice, and he had at no time intended to
be permanently away from the front, fra.n
an unreadiness to bear a soldiers dangers
IN active service. He was simply a VIC
tim Of state Of things that was, at this
time, threatening the Nations life. He
was one Of many who had come to think
That deserving, in order to win an extra
bounty, was one not to be looked at by a
soldier as any worse than civilians deemed
lit.
By and by the condemned man knelt at
my side, in that dismal cabin, while the
cold rain drizzled down upon us through
the open roof, and he prayed sweetly, sim
ply, earnestly; convincing me that SOL
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