Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-11-29
CARDS, THEN DEATH.
A Doomed Deserter Who Played and
Won.

CARDS., THEN DEATH.
A Doomed Deserter Who Played and
Won.
1T Is a curious fact" said men,
ber Of company A, Third Maryland,
that military execution had q peculiar
fascination for men who were daily ac-
customed to see hundreds slain in bat
tie. Men who shovel a breastwork in
on a trench full Of slain comrades and
chew hardtack or eat salt pork while
at the job with callousness which
only such frequent scenes Of occur
rences would make possible in the
human heart became peculiarly sensi-
tive and alive to the solemn parade
and formalities of military execu-
ton.
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 belong ed to compa-
ny X. This man Thompson had de-
serted off 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 in coming in was to sur
render as a Confederate soldier and be
sent north. 1t 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 court
martial was Immediately convened. 1t
leaked out somehow that Thompson
was not the humble soldier he seemed,
but a Confederate officer and spy. He
had been an officer in the United States
navy before the war. He resigned and
went south, where he secured the COM
mission of colonel Of infantry.
Being 2 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 he
would be hanged as spy instead Of
shot as deserter. Friday. the day set
for execution in the army Of the Po-
tomac, came around too soon for
Thompson and his relatives. The night
previous he had been Informed that all
efforts had failed at Washington. I
was on guard duty over him, and my
brother was one Of the detail Of twelve
men selected as firing squad. My
brother didn't like the job, and came to
the tent where was on guard to con-
suit with me how to get out Of 1t.
Thompson overheard our conversation,
and knowing my brother by name, he
broke in: Say, Tip, you must not back
out. I want you in the squad, as
know you are a dead shot, and will
save me from the sergeant
1T was the practice for the sergeant
II the firing squad failed to kill the
doomed man with volley to 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 roll OF
bills. and we were soon in 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 phe-
nomenal luck and watched the game
closely.
"In the afternoon he was to- die, and
about noon he asked to see the lieuten-
ant of the firing squad. Handing the
officer $500, he asked him to divide 1t
equally among the men detailed to
shoot him.
1.-THE division was drawn up and
formed three sides Of a square, the
fourth side being open, where the grave
of Thompson was freshly dug. The
band played the march In Saul. and
Thompson, at the head Of the firing
squad, marched around the three sides
of the square, with the coffin in which
he was to be inclosed carried immedi-
ately behind him. Reaching the open
space, the coffin was set down. Thomp-
son seated himself on the end Of 1t,
facing the firing squad, about twelve
PAGES distant. The death warrant was
read, and the chaplain tied his hand
kerchief over the prisoners eyes. 1
watched Thompson. curious to note II
he would hear the report Of the mus
kets that killed him. Presently 1 heard
the lieutenant's low voice: Ready!
Aim! Fire!'
I'm the next instant Thompson top
pied back into his coffin a dead man.
The report Of the muskets he never
heard, as 1 saw him swiftly fall over
before 1 heard the guns crack, and SO
I settled this disputed point to my own
satisfaction, and to that extent the
execution of Thompson interested me
and no more."-Washington Post.
s1 During the census year az months
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