Shot as a Spy.

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 46, 4 October 1892, Page 4

Shot as a Spy.

An American soldier tells the following strange story of the Civil War : — We had crossed the river to hunt for Lee and give him battle in the Wilderness. Darkness was just settling- down and the advance had halted for the night when a squad of cavalry brought in a young man from our front. He wore a mixed uniform, as did most of the Confederates at that day, or as ciidmost of those belonging to the partisan commands. He Lad nn blue trousers, a butternut jacket, and his hat belonged to neither side. m , They said he was a. spy. They said it carelessly enough, but there ■was a significance in the term at that hour. In camp he would have been searched, interrogated, and lmprscned. .It would have been weeks before his trial, and he would be allowed every chance for life. We were on the march. There had been fighting. There would be more to-morrow. 1 hat meant a drumhead trial for the spy. How speedily everything was arranged ! I was at headquarters, and saw and heard it all. Within half an hour a court-martial was convened — grave iaced officers, who looked into the lace of the young man at first with interest — then with something like admiration. I said a young man. I was wrong. He was a boy of seventeen or eighteen. He had big blue 1 eye 0 , chestnut curls, and ills cheek was as smooth as a girl's* He 1 was a handsome lad, and I believe that every man in the tent felt pity for him. ' "What's your nane V ■' James Blank.' ' What regiment V Nor,e,ply. i . • . 'Are you a citizen or a soldier r No reply. ■<■ ■ '•Can you make, any defence to the charge oi being a spy V No reply. The officers looked at each other and nodded, and the president waved his hand. It didn't seem a minute before a file of : soldiers came. The face of the boy grew white, but he moved like one in a dream. His bie: blue eyes looked upon one after another, as if searching for a friend, and my heart yearned to cry out that he was only a boy and ought to be given time. Tramp ! Tramp ! tramp ! It was the detail marching him off into the darkness. • Halt I Tie this handkerchief over his eyes!' They had brought a lantern. By its light 1 saw the big blue eyes forihs last time as they looked round in ,a dazed way. I wanted to shout to the boy and warn him that ' it was not even yet too late to prove that he was not what they thought him to be, but the grimness ot the scene paralysed my tongue. 1 Place him there. Fall back ! Attention ! Ready— aim — fire !' Ten minutes later the officer in charge of the firing party touched his cap and reported, Orders have been executed, sir !' ' Any further evidence V 'No, sir, except that she was a young woman !'