my queenly sister, who is now
going through more perils, if I am correctly informed, than any of us.
I came to the army not for gain. I was getting much more pay without
risking my life, but I felt it my duty to aid in sustaining our
Government. I did not dream, however, that in the event that I should
escape death from the hands of the enemies of our country that, for an
unhappy result entirely unavoidable, my comrades-in-arms would hasten
to make a sacrifice of me. Were I guilty of anything that I could have
avoided, then I would not ask for leniency; but this I could not avoid.
That I slept on my post I will not deny; but I pray you hear my excuse.
It is this: Two days before this offense was committed, we had marched
through rain and mud some twenty miles in pursuit (as it was said)
of Forrester's cavalry. I did not see many horse tracks in the road,
however, and took it that our forces had captured all their horses, and
that the rebels were taking it on foot, as we were.'

"Here Gen. Sleeman laughed, and said _sotto voce_: 'That boy ought to
be put in command of our cavalry, instead of being shot.'

"'The night of this march my messmate, John Martin, a boy of my own age
and my neighbor before coming to the army, was taken quite ill. It
was his turn to be on guard. I took his guard duty that night, and was
entirely without sleep. When not on post I was attending to him, as
he would have done for me. The next day John was not able to carry
his knapsack and gun on the march, and as we had no transportation, I
carried his as well as my own. The burden was very great for me, and
when we arrived in camp I was completely exhausted. John was not able to
stand my guard, and when I told the Sergeant my condition, he would not
excuse me, and gave as a reason that I had no business to carry John's
gun and knapsack, inasmuch as I had no orders from him to do so. I think
the Sergeant would do much better as a General than as a Sergeant. I
may do him injustice, and I would not do that for the world, but I do
believe that he entertains the same high opinion of himself that I do of
him.'

"At which remark old Gen. Sleeman laughed again, and said, so as to be
heard, 'That boy will be a man some day, and, by the eternal, it would
be a crime--yes, a murder--to shoot him.'

"Continuing, James Whitcomb said: 'This, gentlemen of the Court, is
my excuse, no more, no less. I hope that John Martin may be called to
verify my statement.'