The Jersey City news., 1903-05-29

Iorixinel.1

Captains Ward and Greenway, am
ordered to select one of you to be shot
in retaliation fer Confederate of the
same rank recently shot by the FEEDER
ais at Murfreesboro under the false
accusation Of being 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.
1--WE have cards here said the older
man, Ward. Let us play game of
euchre."
MAKE it rubber" said the Confed-
crate.
Barton said the younger man,
"this is 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 a point; the second he won by
point; the third he lost badly.
..Are you satisfied with the outcome"
asked the man in gray.
Il am"
Come"
The two Union officers embraced
with emotion. AS Barton Ward passed
out of the Jail yard to a file of soldiers
standing In the street his conductor
asked,
why did you give him the first and
last games?"
Because he is idolized by his moth
er, whom l revere, and his sister,
whom love. In his death three would
suffer; 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 a pine table
with scowl on his face. Turning he
said gruf1y:
"Who are you and what do you
wantf"
81 am Major Carnes and wish your
authority to insert the name of Cap
tain Barton Ward on the order for
thC SAOptihS VI SdShdf captain Ii
retaliation for our Captain Stanbury."
At that moment mounted officer
on foaming horse dashed up to the
tent and called:
General, the enemy has possession
of the gaps"
Orderly" shouted the general, 'stell
the chief of staff wish to see him
Immediately Then to those about
him: I'VE are fianked. We must get
out of Tullahoma tonight"
The order, general said the major.
81 cannot obey it unless the name Of
the officer to be shot is properly filed
fn.s
The chief of staff hurried into the
tent
What shall I do, generaly' the
major persisted
"Get away from here, or 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 Tullahoma, passing hastily thrown
up defenses, 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
a body of men, among them the Union
prisoners who had been in Jail at Tul-
lahoma. Major Carnes, who had
charge Of them, found the tables
turned. Yesterday he was a jailer;
now he was a prisoner.
Captain he said to Burton Ward,
II congratulate you'
Major" returned Ward, Il trust
that hereafter when you are ordered
to shoot Union prisoners. you will be
as particular in the drawing OF your
order as you have been in this case"
Captain Ward made it 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 be learned
from Henry Greenway that Captain
Ward was rejected suitor for the
hand Of Greenway's sister, Alice.
Carnes said nothing about having no
ticed that Ward had purpose1y lost the
games which had been played, with
life for the stake, and when he was
exchanged the secret went south with
him undivulged
In the spring of 1865 the war was
ended, and the Union armies marched