Marshal. One was loaded with a blank again. The troops were witnessing the cartridge, according to the usual custom, whole of these proceedings with the intensso that neither of the men could positively est interest. Then the Marshal and the state that the shot from his rifle killed the chaplains began to prepare the culprit for unfortunate man. The coffin, which was his death. He was too weak to stand. of pine wood stained, and without any in- He sat down on the foot of the coffin. scription, came next, in a one-horse wagon. Captain Boyd then bandaged his eyes with Immediately behind followed the doomed a white handkerchief. A few minutes of man, in an open wagon. About five feet painful suspense intervened while the six inches in height, with light hair and Catholic clergymen were having their final whiskers, his eyebrows joining each other, interview with the unfortunate man. All Johnson indeed presented a most forlorn being ready, the Marshal waved his handappearance. He was dressed in cavalry kerchief as the signal, and the firing party uniform, with the regulation overcoat and discharged the volley. Johnson did not black gloves. He was supported by move, remaining in a sitting posture for Father McAtee, who was in constant con- several seconds after the rifles were disversation with him, while Father Willett charged. Then he quivered a little, and rode behind on horseback. The rear was fell over beside his coffin. He was still brought up by Company C, of the Lincoln alive, however, and the four reserves were Cavalry, forming the escort. called to complete the work. It was Arriving on the ground at half-past three found that two of the firing party, Gero'clock, the musicians and the escort took a mans, had not discharged their pieces, and position a little to the left, while the crim- they were immediately put in irons. inal descended from the wagon. The coffin Johnson was shot several times in the was placed on the ground, and he took his heart by the first volley. Each of the position beside it. The firing party was four shots fired by the reserves took effect marched up to within six paces of the in his head, and he died instantly. One prisoner, who stood between the clergy-penetrated his chin, another his left cheek, men. The final order of execution was while two entered the brain just above then read to the condemned. the left eyebrow.

While the order was being read, Johnson stood with his hat on, his head a little inclined to the left, and his eyes fixed in a steady gaze on the ground. Near the close of the reading, one of his spiritual attendants whispered something in his ear. Johnson had expressed a desire to say a few final words before he should leave this world to appear before his Maker. He was conducted close to the firing party, and in an almost inaudible voice, spoke as follows:

"Boys, I ask forgiveness from Almighty God and from my fellow-men for what I have done. I did not know what I was doing. May God forgive me, and may the Almighty keep all of you from all such sin."

The troops then all marched round, and each man looked on the bloody corpse of his misguided comrade.

Maternal Love and Patriotic Duty.

An old lady residing in Johnstown, Cambria county, Penn., had an only son, a strapping minor, to whom she was most warmly attached. This lad, however, having some of the war fever in him, was induced to join a corps from the mountains, and, hoping to deceive the old lady, he invented a very plausible tale, and came away. The love of the mother was, however, too great to be deceived, and after a week had elapsed, the true story was revealed to her. She started upon the railroad with a bundle and a small sum

He was then placed beside the coffin of money, and walked to Harrisburg alone,

10. I hev korns and bunyuns on both pursuit of him. He had to descend the feet, which wooed prevent me from marchin. hill on the side toward the enemy's camp. I don t suppose that my political opin- While he eluded his pursuers, he found ions, which are ferninst the prosekooshun himself in a new danger. He had gotten

uv this unconstitooshnel war, wooed hev within the enemy's camp pickets! He enny wate with a draftin osifer, but the had, while running, torn the 'U. S.' from above reasons why I can't go, will, I maik his cartridge box, and covered his belt no doubt, be suffishent.

Clever Use of the Countersign.

plate with his cap box, and torn the stripe from his pantaloons. He was challenged by their sentinels while making his way During the fight at Gauley Bridge, Vir- out, and answered, giving the countersign, ginia, on the 10th of November, 1861, a "Mississippi," Second Virginia regiment. glorious instance of personal bravery was They asked him what he was doing there. afforded in the conduct of Sergeant Car- He said that the boys had gone off on a ter, of Tippecanoe, Ohio. The Sergeant scout after the Yankees; that he had been was upon the post first attacked by the detained in camp, and in trying to find Confederates. The advance guard of the them had got bewildered. As he passed Second Virginia, consisting of twelve men, through, to prevent further questioning, he came suddenly upon him and his three said, "Our boys are up on the ridge,companions. The bright moonlight re- which is the best way up?" They anvealed the flashing bayonets of the ad- swered, "Bear to the left, and you'll find vancing regiment. He was surrounded it easier to climb." Soon again his purand separated from his reserve. With suers were after him, as he expressed it, great presence of mind he stepped out and "breaking brush behind him." challenged, "Halt! Who goes there?" This time, with a hound on his trail, he The advance guard of the Second Virgin- made his way to a brook, and running ia, consisting of twelve men, supposing down the shallow stream, threw the dog that they had come upon a scouting party off the scent, and as the day was dawning of their own men, answered, "Friends, he came suddenly upon four pickets, who with the countersign." brought their arms to a ready, and chalAt his order, "Advance one, and give lenged him. He gave the countersign the countersign," they hesitated. He re- "Mississippi;" claimed to belong to the peated the order peremptorily," Advance Second Virginia. His cap box had slipped and give the countersign, or I'll blow you from his belt plate. They asked him through." They answered, without advanc- where he got that belt. He told them he ing, "Mississippi." "Where do you be- had captured it that night from a Yankee. long?" he demanded. "To the Second They told him to advance, and as he apVirginia regiment." "Where are you proached, he recognized their accoutregoing?" "Along the ridge." ments and knew he was among his own They then in turn questioned him, men, a picket guard from the First Ken"Who are you?" "That's my own busi- tucky. He was taken before Colonel Enness," he answered, and taking deliberate gart and dismissed to his regiment. When aim he shot down his questioner. He the brave fellow was asked what was his called for his boys to follow him, and leap- motive in halting a whole column of the ed down a ledge of rock, while a full vol- enemy, he said his plan was to give intiley went over his head. He heard his mation to the reserve, of their advance, companions summoned to surrender, and that they might open upon them on their left the order given to the Major to advance flank, and so, perhaps, arrest their progress. with the regiment. Several started in If ever a fellow escaped by the skin of

his teeth, from his enemies-and if ever a brave fellow deserved to-that man was

Snaked Away, and Drummed In. One of the "sufferers" at Camp Dennithe gallant Sergeant Carter. It was a son, which for a time was used for the care courageous thing to obtain the countersign, of the sick and wounded, was an Irish and nothing but his courage made it after- soldier. The attendant approached him and said: wards available.

An

"Well, Sir, what's the matter with

you?"

"Wounded, Sir; slight wound in the groin-worse one in the heel." "Where were you wounded?" "Pittsburg Landing, Sir." "What part of the battle?" "Second fire of the last round, Sir."

Bridegroom and Volunteer the same Night. Crime and outrage, in all their various phases, are the concomitants of war. illustration in point is afforded in the adventures of an ex-Confederate soldier from Alabama, the scene of his exploits being in Chicago, Illinois. It seems that one day a young man waited upon the police authorities at the central station in that city, to obtain advice in a search for his sister, a young girl of seventeen years, who had fled from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to Chicago, after having fallen a victim to the wiles of a seducer. On this representation being made, one of the detectives took charge of the case, and in the course of time found the girl living with an Alabamian, of the name of Jones. The officer arrested both of them, and then called in the brother, the interview resulting in a refusal on the girl's part to leave Jones, and Jones not only refused to leave her, but expressed his willingness to marry her In addition to his offer of marriage, the man proposed to enlist in the Federal army as a substitute, and leave the money with his bride. The brother was satisfied with this proposition, and the exrebel Jones, having become a virtuous Jones, instantly fulfilled his promise,-a justice of the peace performing the marriage ceremony. Jones thereupon went to a recruiting office, enlisted, received I was fighting for, and I didn't want to blow two hundred and fifty dollars bounty a fellow creature's brains out without money, paid it over plumply to the brother, knowing what I was blowing 'em out for, and left Chicago the same night for d'ye see; no more did I want a fellow Springfield, to be assigned to a regiment. creature to blow my brains out without The bridegroom declared that he did not knowing what they was blown out forBut mind what regiment he entered, so long as so, Sir, I just snaked away Sir! he avoided being sent into Virginia, where, on Monday they found me, Sir, and drumhe stated, he was so well known that if med me in." He was from Texas. captured he would assuredly be hung.

at once.

"What, Monday? Why it was rather hard, wasn't it; to fight two days and then get hurt at the very last?"

"Devil a two days did I fight at all

Sir."

"Why, how was that?"

"Why, you see, Sir, I didn't know what

was so scared that I did not know what to

"I'm all right, then."

66

Why so?" said he.

"Because we are all friends," said I; "I am rebel too-I want to go down to New Orleans to see my mother."

Then he asked me how our pickets were stationed. I told him two of our companies which had been out went in that day toward the camps. He asked if I thought he could capture any of them, and I told him I did not think he could. He asked why, and I replied that there were a number of mounted riflemen around. The head scout asked me what kind of arms the Lincoln men received, and at the same time said,

"Let me see your pistol."

I handed him my revolver. Colonel Taylor took it, and cocking it, said to me, Dismount, or I will blow your brains

66

out."

Melancholy End of Johnson, the Deserter. The execution of poor Johnson, for the say. However, I asked him who they crime of desertion, constituted a melan- were, and he said they were the enemy. choly page in the history of the army in Said I to him, Virginia. Of this crime, the unfortunate culprit said I had not the slightest intention of deserting, up to a few minutes before I started in the direction of the enemy's lines. The way I came to leave our army was this: I was on the outposts, and after dinner, when watering my horse, I thought I would go to the first house on the Braddock road and get a drink of milk. When I rode up to the house I saw a man and a boy. I asked the man for some milk, and he said he had none; and to my enquiry as to where I could get some, he said he did not know except I should go some distance further on. I said I thought it would be dangerous to go far, and he remarked that none of the rebels had been seen in that vicinity for some time. It was then that I conceived the idea of deserting. I thought I could ride right up to the rebel pickets and inside the enemy's line, go and see my mother in New Orleans, stay for a few weeks in the South, and then be able to dismounted, delivered up my belt and saget back to our regiment again, perhaps bre, while at the same time they searched with some valuable information. I never my pockets, but there was nothing in them had any idea of going over to the rebels, except a piece of an old New York Ledgand as it is I would rather be hung on a er, I believe. Then he tied my hands betree than go and join the rebel army. I fore me, and sent me back to camp in don't see what under heaven put it into my charge of three men, besides another who head to go away. I acted upon the im- took my horse. pulse of the moment. When the man at Johnson was duly tried by court-martial the house said none of the enemy had and found guilty. The place chosen for been seen lately in that vicinity, I asked his execution was a spacious field near the where it was that the five rebels I had Fairfax Seminary. The Provost-Marheard of had been seen some time ago, shal, mounted and wearing a crimson and he said it was at the round house on scarf across his breast, led the mournful the left hand side of the road. I asked cortege. He was immediately followed him where the road led to. He said to by the buglers of the regiment, four Centreville, and so I went that way. abreast, dismounted. Then came the Riding along on the Braddock road, some twelve men-one from each company in miles beyond our pickets, I suddenly came the regiment, selected by ballot,-who across Colonel Taylor, of the Third New constituted the firing party. The arms, Jersey regiment, with his scouting party. Sharps' breech-loading rifle, had been preI thought they were the rebels, but at first viously loaded under the direction of the

I was so much frightened I thought my brains had been blown out already. I