The Washington herald., 1914-12-22
HISTORY BUILDERS.
A Romantic Event of the Revolu-
honary War.
tWntten Expressly for The HeTaldl
By DIR. +. j. EDWARDS.

By DIR. f. J. EDWARDS.
The late Judge Learned Hebard. Of
Lebanon. Conn, the birthplace OF hve men
who afterward became governors, three
Of Connecticut and two of other States,
was the administrator upon the estate Of
one OF the sons of Jonathan TrumbuIl.
who was governor OF Connecticut in revo-
lutionary times and who was upon such
intimate terms with Washington that the
name of endearment which Washington
gave him-"Brother Jonathan'-became a
synonym for the American people.
In his capacity as administrator Judge
Hebard learned many interesting facts
respecting the famous Trumbull family.
happened to say to Judge Hebard that
thought the legion OF French troops under
command OF De Lauzun which had been
sent by France to assist the Continental
army encamped during one winter some
where in the town OF Lebanon.
Right there" said Judge Hebard,
pointing to a green or common which wa
directly in front of his own house Til
walk out there with you and show you
what remains of the oven which the
bread
1t was not difficult to trace the outlines
of this oven and there were scattered
about fragments OF the brick with which
the soldiers built II. Judge Hebard said
that it was tradition that the man who
built that oven for the French became
angry at something which happened and
tried TO desert. He was captured. court
martialed and sentenced to be shot.
If you are interested in looking at the
place where this soldier was executed
will take you to the spot" said the judge.
We walked perhaps three-Quartcrs of
mile along a highway which ran in a
westerly direction. and at last Judge He
bard stopped and. pointing to a little pile
OF stones, some OF which we're weather
beaten and moss covered and which ap-
peared to have been gathered into a loose
heap years before. he said: That is where
the soldier was shot. His comrades were
fond of him, and after he was buried
they put over his grave as many stones
as they could collect and afterward
others put stones there until IT became
quite a monument. ] have sometimes
thought that il might be a good idea IL
the town fenced in the grave and restored
il somewhat.
There was an interesting tradition as
sociated with this soldier Judge Hebard
continued He was believed to have
been of good French family. but for some
reason had fallen into disgrace and was
trying to eXpiate his fault by serving as
a common soldier. He was a man OF good
appearance. very courteous and graceful.
One of the young women OF the town be-
came interested in him. not in any rO-
mantle way, but because she was sure
he was fitted for better service than as
common soldier. She knew there was
some mystery about his life She used to
talk with him at the oven. When she
heard that he had been sentenced to be
shot for desertion she pleaded with the
French commander for mercy and he
at last granted her request. He wrote
an order for the postpOnement OF the
execution and delivered it to an orderly
to take to the sergeant who had been
charged to execute the man. The orderly
had been imbibing hot flip. and when he
went out into the cold air the fumes went
to his head. He forgot all about the order
and was put into the guardhouse be-
cause he was intoxicated. The soldier
was shot at sunrise. Not until the orderly
became sober was the reprieve found.
Among those who visited his grave was
the young woman who had befriended
him.
Tomorrow DIR. Edwards will tell of "A
FypDlOya NJ Sfafa neparf-