two military Executions

by Ambrose Bierce

in_the spring of_the year 1862 general Buell's big army lay in camp, licking itself into shape for_the campaign which resulted in_the victory at Shiloh . it_was a raw, untrained army, although some of_its fractions had seen hard enough service, with a good_deal of fighting, in_the mountains of western Virginia, and in Kentucky . the war was young and soldiering a new industry, imperfectly understood by_the young American of_the period, who found some features of it not altogether to_his liking . chief among_these was_that essential part of discipline, subordination . to one imbued from infancy with_the fascinating fallacy that all men are born equal, unquestioning submission to authority is_not easily mastered, and_the American volunteer soldier in_his " green and salad days" is among_the worst known . that_is how it happened that one of Buell's men, private Bennett story Greene, committed the indiscretion of striking his officer . later in_the war he_would_not have_done that; like sir Andrew Aguecheek, he_would_have " seen him damned" first . but time for reformation of_his military manners was denied him: he_was promptly arrested on complaint of_the officer, tried by court- martial and sentenced to_be shot .

" you might_have thrashed me and let it go at_that," said the condemned man to_the complaining witness; " that_is what you used to_do at school, when_you were plain will Dudley and i_was as good as_you . nobody saw me strike you; discipline would_not have suffered much ."

"Ben Greene, I guess you_are right about_that," said the lieutenant ." will_you forgive me ? that_is what I_came to_see you about ."

there_was no reply, and an officer putting his head in at_the door of_the guard- tent where the conversation had occurred, explained that_the time allowed for_the interview had expired . the next morning, when in_the presence of_the whole brigade private Greene was shot to death by a squad of_his comrades, lieutenant Dudley turned his back upon_the sorry performance and muttered a prayer for mercy, in_which himself was included .

a few weeks afterward, as Buell's leading division was being ferried over the Tennessee river to assist in succoring grant's beaten army, night was coming on, black and stormy . through_the wreck of battle the division moved, inch by inch, in_the direction of_the enemy, who had withdrawn a little to reform his lines . but for_the lightning the darkness was absolute . never for a moment did it cease, and ever when_the thunder did_not crack and roar were heard the moans of_the wounded among whom the men felt their way with their feet, and upon whom they stumbled in_the gloom . the dead were there, too-- there were dead a- plenty .

in_the first faint gray of_the morning, when_the swarming advance had paused to resume something of definition as a line of battle, and skirmishers had_been thrown forward, word was passed along to_call the roll . the first sergeant of lieutenant Dudley's company stepped to_the front and began to name the men in alphabetical order . he had no written roll, but a good memory . the men answered to_their names as he ran down the alphabet to G .

"Gorham ."

" here ! "

"Grayrock ."

" here ! "

the sergeant's good memory was affected by habit:

"Greene ."

" here ! "

the response was clear, distinct, unmistakable !

a sudden movement, an agitation of_the entire company front, as from an electric shock, attested the startling character of_the incident . the sergeant paled and paused . the captain strode quickly to_his side and said sharply:

" call that name again ."

Apparently the society for psychical research is_not first in_the field of curiosity concerning the unknown .

" Bennett Greene ."

" here ! "

all faces turned in_the direction of_the familiar voice; the two men between whom in_the order of stature Greene had commonly stood in line turned and squarely confronted each_other .

" once more," commanded the inexorable investigator, and once more came--a trifle tremulously-- the name of_the dead man:

" Bennett story Greene ."

" here ! "

at_that instant a single rifle- shot was heard, away to_the front, beyond the skirmish- line, followed, almost attended, by_the savage hiss of an approaching bullet which passing through_the line, struck audibly, punctuating as with a full stop the captain's exclamation, " what the devil does it mean ? "

lieutenant Dudley pushed through_the ranks from_his place in_the rear .

" it means this," he_said, throwing open his coat and displaying a visibly broadening stain of crimson on_his breast . his knees gave way; he fell awkwardly and lay dead .

a little later the regiment was ordered out of line to relieve the congested front, and through some misplay in_the game of battle was not again under fire . nor did Bennett Greene, expert in military executions, ever again signify his presence at one .