Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1902-12-03
CARDS, THEN DEATH



A. = Preliminary Go ME Exscssss.
He Hsd Hfs winninss Dassrihutea
Among the Members Of the ssuaa
That shot Esina 60 Meath.
"rt Is curious fact" said q men,
Der OF Company A. Third Maryland.
that military execution had peculiar
fascination for men who were daily
accustomed to see hundreds slain In
battle. Men who shovel n breastwork
in on a trench full OF slain comrades
and chew bareback or eat salt pork
while at the job with a callousness
which only such frequent scenes or oc-
currences would make possible In the
human heart became peculiarly sensl-
tive and alive TO the solemn parade
and formalities OF military execution.
I'm our regiment we had a private
soldier sentenced TO be shot for desert
ing TO the enemy. His name was
Thompson. and he belonged to Com
pany X. This man Thompson had de-
serted OF vedette post one night and
some two months afterward came into
our lines. where members OF his own
company happened to be on picket
duty. Thompson did not calculate on
this His idea I'm coming In was to sur
render as a Confederate soldier and be
sent north. IL happened near TO the
Weldon railroad, where our division OF
the Ninth corps was then posted. OF
course. on being recognized. he was
taken to headquarters. and a court
martial was immediately convened. II
leaked out somehow that Thompson
was not the humble soldier he seemed.
but Confederate officer and SOY. He
had been an officer I'm the United States
navy before the war. He resigned and
went south, where be secured the COM
mission OF colonel OF infantry
Being a Marylander OF family, ef-
forts were made to save his life. but In
quiet way. as his relatives feared to
disclose his real identity for fear be
would be hanged as a spy instead OF
shot as a deserter. Friday. the day
set for execution in the Army OF the
Potomac, came around too soon for
Thompson and his relatives. The night
previous be had been Informed that all
Efforts had failed NJ Washington.
was on guard duty over him. and my
brother was one OF the detail of twelve
men selected as the firing squad My
brother didn't like the job. and came
TO the tent where I was on guard TO
consult with me how Co get ont OF Il.
Thompson overheard our conversation.
and. knowing my brother 10y name. he
broke in: Say. Tip. you must not back
out. want you in the squad. as
know you are dead shot and will
save me froun the sergeant.
1T was the practice for the. sergeant
II the firing squad failed TO xiii the
doomed man with u volley 60 place the
muzzle OF his rife against the temple
OF the prisoner and blow out his brains.
After Tip had consented the officer
OF the guard permitted us TO play cards
with the prisoner He had n roll OF
bills. and we were soon In a stiff poker
game. Two guards. including myself,
my brother Tip and Thompson. COM
posed the quartet We played until
gray daylight. and Thompson skinned
the party OF every dollar He had
phenomenal luck and watched the
game closely.
I'm the afternoon he was TO die, and
about noon he asked TO see the Iieuten-
ant of the firing squad. Handing the
officer $500. he asked him TO divide Il
equally among the men detailed TO
shoot him.
The division was drawn up and
formed three sides OF a square. tie
fourth side being open. where the crave
OF Thompson was freshly dug The
band played the dead march i'm saul
and Thompson. at the head OF lhe fir
ing squad. marched around the three
which he was TO he Enclosed carried Inn
mediately behind him Reaching the
open space the coffin was set down
Thompson seated himself on the end OF
IT, facing the firing squad. about twelve
PAGES distant. The death warrant was
read. and the chaplain tied his hand
kerchief over the prisoners eyes
watched Thompson. curious To note II
he would hear the reports OF the mus
kets that killed him. Presently heard
the Iieutenant's low voice: Ready
Aiml Fire.
pied back into his coffin a dead man.
The reports OF the nuskets he never
heard. as ! saw him swiftly fall over
before heard the guns crack. and so
l settled this disputed point TO my own
satisfaction. and to that extent the ex-
ecution OF Thompson interested me and
no more. Washington Post