Spy stories; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Fiction
A long table with writing materials on it had been provided for the use
of the members of the court, and a smaller one for Nancy and her
counsel was placed near it. Facing the two tables was a chair for the
witnesses, and beyond that another small table for the use of the
reporters.
The officers, who wore their full-dress uniforms and side arms, were
soon seated about the table, with the presiding officer, Colonel
Andrews, at the head, and the judge advocate, Captain Foster, in
undress uniform, facing him at the foot. At a signal from the judge
advocate, one of the orderlies in attendance stepped to the door and
spoke to the sentry.
In a few minutes, Nancy was ushered into the room by the provost
sergeant of the guard. Warren rose instantly, and escorted her to her
seat, and his eyes flashed in admiration of her poise and beauty.
Tranquilly and with dignity, she returned the salutes of the officers;
if she had been receiving them in her own drawing-room, her manner
could not have been more composed.
Mrs. Warren, who sat between Mrs. Arnold and Mrs. Bennett, noticed with
pitying heart the deep shadows under Nancy's eyes and the hollows in
her white cheeks. She bent forward, and impulsively kissed her hand to
Nancy when the latter looked wistfully at her, and was promptly rebuked
by the presiding officer. Nancy had hoped that her aunt would be
present, but Warren had decided to call Miss Metoaca as one of the
witnesses for the defence, and therefore she could not attend the
hearings.
The judge advocate rapped for order; then rose and signed to Nancy to
do likewise as he read from a paper in his hand:
"Special Orders } War Department,
No. 576 } Office of the Adjutant-General,
} April 8th, 1865.
"4 ... A Military Commission is appointed to meet in the City of
Washington, District of Columbia, at nine o'clock on Monday, April
10th, 1865, for the trial of Miss Nancy Newton.
"Detail for the Commission
"Colonel Andrews U.S. Volunteers
Major Charles Lane U.S. Veterans Reserve Corps
Captain John Taylor 1st Squadron Provisional Cavalry
Lieutenant Joseph Clarke 1st Mass. Heavy Artillery
Lieutenant Henry Wells 1st N.H. Heavy Artillery
Lieutenant Harvey Slocum 3rd Mass. Heavy Artillery
Lieutenant James Phillipse 2nd District Volunteer Cavalry
Captain George Foster --th U.S. Infantry, Judge Advocate
and Recorder.
"A greater number of officers cannot be assembled without manifest
injury to the service at this time.
"By command of the President.
"E. D. TOWNSEND,
_Assistant Adjutant-General._"
"Prisoner," the judge advocate turned and faced her directly, "do you
object to being tried by any member of this commission?"
"No, sir," answered Nancy calmly.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account