Casco Bay breeze. [volume] (South Harpswell, Me.) 1901-1917, 1903-09-03
a GAME
FOR LIFE
rorisinalJ

crate ofdcer approached with q paper
In his hand and spoke to them.
Captains Ward and Greenway, am
ordered to select one Of you to be shot
In retaliation for q Confederate Of the
same rank recently shot by the FEEDER
ais at Murfreesboro under the false
accusation Of being a spy. Since you
both come under the order you must
draw lots to determine which shall
suffer DEATH"
The prisoners paled at this grim an
nouncement.
I'VE have cards here" said the older
man. Ward. LET us play a game Of
euchre."
Make 1t a rubber" said the Confed-
crate.
Barton" said the younger man.
this In terrible"
1T Is only DEATH" replied the other,
which we often face In another FORM"
Barton Ward dealt the cards. and the
game began. The first game he lost
by point: the second he won by q
point: the third he lost badly.
Are You satisfied with the outcomeY'
asked the man In gray.
- am"
Come"
The two Union officers embraced
with emotion. AS Barton Ward passed
out Of the Jail yard to file Of soldiers
standing I'm the street his conductor
asked:
why did you give him the first and
last gamesT'
Because he Is icolized by his moth
er. whom revere. and his sister.
whom love. In his death, three would
sufrer:,in mine. but one"
Sergeant" said the Confederate.
march your men and the prisoner to
headquarters"
When the party arrived the officer
entered the generals tent. The COM
mander was sitting before pine table
with a scowl on his face. Turning he
said grufiiy:
"who are you and what do you
wanty'
II am Major Carnes and wish your
authority to insert the name Of Cap
/ tain Barton Ward on the order for
the shooting of Federal captain In
retaliation for our Captain Stanbury."
At that moment mounted officer
on a fOaming horse dashed up to the
tent and called:
General. the enemy has possession
Of the gaps"
Orderly" shouted the general. '.tel.
the chief Of stan I wish to see him
Immediately" Then to those about
him: I'VE are hanked. We must get
out OF Tullaboma tonight"
II
IL cannot obey II unless the name Of
the officer to be shot is properly filed
In"
The chief Of stan hurried into the
| tent.
what shall do. generally" the
major persisted.
"Get away from here, or I will have
you shot In place Of the prisoner. I
have no time for such matters"
Early the next morning the Union
advance guard, pressing down the road
to Tullahopa. passing hastily thrown
up dcfenses. finally came to the main
Notifications. behind which the Con-
federates had expected to defend the
town. and found them deserted. Press
ing on. they came upon the rear guard
OF the Confederate army and captured
n body OF men. among them the Union
prisoners who had been in jail at Tul-
iahoma. Major Carnes, who had
charge Of them. found the tables
turned. Yesterday he was jailer:
now he was n prisoner.
Captain" he said to Burton Ward,
IL congratulate you"
| Major" returned Ward, ~ trust
that hereafter when you are ordered
TO shoot Union prisoners, you will be
as particular I'm the drawing Of your
order as you have been I'm this case.'
Captain Ward made IL his especial
business TO see that the man who had
so nearly acted as his executioner
should be treated with every Kindness.
Carnes remained a prisoner for some
months. during which time he learned
from Henry Greenway that Captain
Ward was n rejected sutton for the
hand Of Greenway's sister, Alice.
Carnes said nothing about having no
tced that Ward had purposely lost the
games which had been played, with
life for the stake. and when he was
exchanged the secret went south with
him undivuIged
In the spring Of 1865 the war was
ended. and the Union armies marched
home. Barton Ward met Alice Green
way: she reIented and consented to be
his wife. The wedding had taken
place. and the bride and groom depart.
ed In the usual shower OF rice. The
same evening when they were alone
the young wife said to her husband:
Barton. why do you suppose I mar
ried your
because you loved me- said the
groom. starting ut the strangeness of
the question.
Il love you truly. but there IL n rea-
son why would have married you
even IL did not love you"
And that isT'
| She handed him n letter:
Petersburg. Va. March q fsH
Il When CAPTAINS Ward ana 0x~~o.sw