Traverse lifted his noble head and keen eyes, and looked slowly around,

in turn, upon each officer of the court-martial.

They might all be said to be strangers to him, since he knew them only

by sight--all except his old acquaintance, Herbert Greyson, who sat

first at the left hand of the President, and who returned his look of

scrutiny with a gaze full of encouragement.

"I find no cause of challenge, and take no exception to any among the

officers composing this court," answered Traverse, again bowing with

such sweetness and dignity in tone and gesture that the officers, in

surprise, looked first at the prisoner and then at each other. No one

could doubt that the accused, in the humble garb of a private soldier,

was nevertheless a man of education and refinement--a true gentleman,

both in birth and breeding.

As no challenge was made, the Judge Advocate proceeded to administer to

each of the members of the court the oath prescribed in the Articles of

War, to the intent that they should "try the matter before them,

between the prisoner and the United States, according to the evidence,

without fear, favor or affection."

This oath was taken by each member holding up his right hand and

repeating the words after the officer.

The court then being regularly constituted, and every preliminary form

observed, the Judge Advocate arose and directed the prisoner to listen

to the charge brought against him, and preferred by the Colonel of his

Regiment, Gabriel Le Noir.

Traverse raised his head and fixed his eagle eyes upon the prosecutor,

who stood beside the Judge Advocate, while the latter in an audible

voice read the accusation, charging the prisoner with wilful neglect of

duty, in that he, the said Traverse Rocke, on the night of the first of

September, being placed on guard at the northwestern outpost of the

Infantry quarters, at Tacubaya, did fall asleep upon his post, thereby

endangering the safety of the quarters, and violating the 46th Article

of War.

To which charge the prisoner, in a firm voice, replied: "Not guilty of wilful neglect of duty, though found sleeping upon my

post."

The Judge Advocate then cautioned all witnesses to withdraw from the

court and come only as they were called. They withdrew, and he then

arranged some preliminaries of the examination, and called in--Captain

Zuten, of the ---- Regiment of Infantry.

This witness was a short, coarse-featured, red-haired person of Dutch

extraction, without intellect enough to enable him to conceal the

malignity of his nature.

He testified that on Thursday, the first of September, Traverse Rocke,

private in his company, was ordered on guard at the northwestern

outpost of the quarters, between the hours of four and eight a.m. That

about five o'clock on the same morning, he, Joseph Zuten, in making his

usual rounds, and being accompanied on that occasion by Colonel Gabriel

Le Noir, Lieutenant Adams and Ensign Baker, did surprise Private

Traverse Rocke asleep on his post leaning against the sentry box with

his musket at his feet.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024