Year: 1871

and punishments had to be devised that


would reach class of men and offenses


unprovided for in the Regulations


The storm which had been brewing for


many months in the ranks of the Second


Cavalry, suddenly burst upon it. A paper


demanding the resignation of the Lieuten-


ant Colonel, had been largely signed by Of


hcers and men, and presented to him.


This was the flint that struck the fire. In


half an hour the officers whose names ap-
peared on the fatal list were deprived of


their swords, and the catastrophe was no
' longer to be avoided. Blood was in the
eyes Of the soldiers, and none in the cheeks


OF the ofhcers-vengeanc was in the


hearts Of the men, and fear in the souls of


the commanders. There was a quick roll


OF the drum--a few explosive orders-a


sudden rush-a sort of dizzy whirl the
! Lieutenant Colonel narrowly escaped, and
/ by quick movement of the guard, ser


gent and several men whose names were


on the paper, were arrested and lodged in


the guard-house. y double force was


posted to prevent the rescue Of the pris-


oners-and the immediate danger was
over.


After the storm, the calm. The anxiety


OF some men to get into trouble is only
/ exceeded by their solicitude TO get out OF


it. 1t happened SO with these. The vio-
. lent and headlong haste Of the action was


eclipsed only by the reaction. To the


sTordless officers musing in their separate
tents, and the imprisoned soldiers discuss
ing the affair between the bars, there
came in due time repentance and re-
gret.


Through the clemency of the man whom
they sought to destroy, there was at last
afforded on certain conditions, the oppor-


tunity to erase their names from the black
muster-roIl, and secure restoration TO duty.
Some quickly, and others reluctantly, but
finally all availed themselves Of the abso-
luton, except onc-the sergeant, the lead
er, the prime mover and champion Of the
affair


He seorncd forgiveness it implied an
acknowledgment of guilt He would
stand by the deed whatever the law
called 1t, he held it Just resistance to tyr
amy. He had sought no mans life. He
had felt We cannot live together;
therefore, DO thou 90 thy way and | Will
mine; and he had simply said so. lfthat
were a crime he could not help it. No
matter if a thousand men were towards.
re had not the blood of a poltroOn IN his
veins. He should never promise-touch
his hat, and, bowing low, beg to have his
name blOttod out OF the list His soul re-
VOTED at it. he would live and die by
that solemn protest against the authority
OF domiueering coward and an incompe-
tent commander


So the law took him and tried him be
fore a general court martial. found him
guilty and sentenced him TO be shot to
death The General approved the finding
and sentence of the court and the day
and hour Of the execution were fixed in an
order that was read, on certain evening
at dress parade, TO each regiment Of the
division. And with the words of that Or
der a cloud fell On the whole command


The law was ineXorab.c, and the court
had no alternative Being guilty this was
the punishment prescribed, without that
saving clause which puts the offender at
the mercy of the court. or such other
punishment as the court may direct But
did he deserve death p Not a man in the
whole command believed IT, The men
knew it was the letter of the law that was
Staying him but how to invoke its spirit.
and whether the spirit could save him if it
would, sorely puzzled them. They were
satisfied that he would be punished, but
by something les severe and irrevocable
than death.


With what crushing weight the thought
came home to their hearts that a good SOL
dier, true patriot, was to be shot for a
technicality, At the end Of a long war
through which he had faithfully served
How they talked about the lonesome, weary
wife, and her eager and expectant chill
dreu, away at the North, watching with
batel breath the opening OF the mail that
was soon, if not today, to bring her the
news of the final discharge of the Second
Cavalry. Who could hold a pen TO write
this other news in its stead Who could
send home to her the picture OF her own
sweet face. with the curls Of baby's hair
on the glass, as he had worn il next to his
heart 50 many years, through all danger bv
flood and field, and write the words, This.
with his undying love, he bade me send .
last request :?


Did ever the relentless DAYS DRAG a [
man to such hopeless, bottomless doom /?


If only he had fallen on some fierce bat
tie field, madly striking for his country .
If only he had bee slain on the picket
line, plotting the grand old army to victo-
ry If he could have died in the hospital,
wasted away by incurable wounds or dis
ease, or been sacrificed in a Southern pris
0u, enduring outrage and starvation with
the tortitude born Of honor and patriotism!
If only in any way his blood might have
been reckoned as a part of the price paid
Tor liberty and free government!


But no-uone of these. The very rnc-
ord of his devotion to his couutry's cause.
and his faithful years OF untiring service
we're to be blotted out. His memory was
% be blackened forever, and his name to
become legacy Of shame to his chill
lren; and yet they knew he was conscious
# DO crime


Was 1t possible to save him in any way
Gould he be pardoned. or his sentence be
'enounced Yes, but only one man could ,
10 1.-THE General. Would he i? Only
me man IN all the command could ask to
10 it and hope TO be heard-the Lieuten-
mt Colonel. Would he do it d?


The days OF respite passed rapidly, and 7
he anxiety and sympathy for the doomed
nan constantly increased in a cumulative ,
alto. At last the indispensable man ar
ived at division headquarters, with a me
ltion for pardon and asked the staff to /
ign it. Every valid reason that could
'e found was urged, and he went away !
With all our names. He Jared the same l
t brigade headquarters and by the time
e reached the commanders of regiments {
'ho all signed it, the report had rejoiced |
he hearts of every tent squad in the whole g
ivision. TheY knelc it would be granted /