The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-03-14
Recollections of along Life
No. I: The Haunted Soldier.
By Col. D. A. Dickeri

court martial. But court martials
were slow then, times being too siren
uous to give heed to such matters.
The news of his arrest and accus-
alton of coWardice had reached his
home and it CALLED his proud soul to
the quick. 1t was not co~ardice, that
actuated him, but the horror. the
nervous repulsion, to the roar, the
blood and shriels of battle. The dread
of something unseen. He was not
afraid of death as the sequel Will
show. In the opening days Of May
the signal gun sounded the crossing
of the Rappahannock by Hooker. The
army moved out upon the lines in the
early twilight The battle of Chancel-
lorsville was on. The sight of his COM
rades marching out so bravely to give
combat to the enemy and he to re-
main behind fired the heart of George
as it never had been before. He would
redeem himself or fill soldiers
grave. He went to his colonel, TOLD
him of his determination, implored
him to allow him to buckle On his
sword again and take his stand with
his comrades in the coming battle.
He promised to be a man and l have I
no doubt he meant it at he time.
The colonel released him: from ar
rest, bid him go and be a true, son OF
the South. Stonewall Jackson waS
about to make his great flank move
ment on Hcoker's rear. George,
whose command belonged to that corps
marched along with a proud step and
determined mien His men were
proud to see him with them again,
and had high hopes he would prove
himself a true soldier. Night was
coming on. AS they marched the
great dark forest of the wilderness
loomed up in which lay~ Rookers
army. The skirmishing began, then
the heavy baying of the cannon, ming
ling in the roar of the musketry. The
Kissing of the minnie balls and schap-
nells. the falling of trees, the shout
of the charge down into that seething
roaring hell of battle. 1t was enough.
to freeze the blood of the stoutest. 1t
was here George did one of the worst
and unforgiving acts known In the
life of soldier, "He deserted his col
ors in the face of the enemy"
This offence meant death to the pri-
vate, to an officer to be stripped of hlS
office, aid driven out of camp in dis
grace. The latter was meted out to
George. He was a man without a
country, a pariah among men, ana
summed by the soldiers as a leper.
Where was he to go? Where find
comradeship, if such existed on eartn
for him?
He came down to Richmond, enter
ed the navy ad took service in little
iron clad that lay tugging at its haus-
er in the James.
One evening not long after his en-
trance while walking upon the quar-
ter deck watching the sun as it was
sliding down behind the peaks OF the
Blue Ridge sudden emotion came to
him like that the melancholy Dane;
he queried with himself, whether IN
his sea of troubles it was better to
stand the ills he knew or fly to those
he krew not Of" He chose the latter.
In his room he left he most beaut1-
full and pathetic letter it was ever my
privilege to read.
To his friends he confessed his
weakness but asked them not to Judge
him too harshly, for it was not DEATH
that he was afraid of as the sequel OF
that letter would show but an inflrma-
ty. He forgave the worlds harshness
and wrong, bid it an affectionate fare
we'll. Walking deliberately and calm
" to the outer rail he made the fatal
leap. In a moment the dark muddy
waters of the James rolled placldly
over all that was mortal of the un-
fortunate George.
Here may the student of biology or
psychology find rich field for spec