Hello!

I was listening to Dan Carlin's Hardcore History, and I took special interest in a story he told about a french Soldier being killed by a firing squad (for listeners, the story is at about the 46 min mark).

The jist of the story is that BG Spears saw a squad of Soldiers leading a Soldier-prisoner away, and he could tell at once it was a firing squad and the Soldier would soon be dead.

He then told of a French General (General Ledame?) that spoke with the Soldier, asked him what his crime was, and then proceeded not only to justify the execution to the Soldier, but tell the Soldier that, even in his death, he is serving is country.

The story was very powerful. My jimmies were rustled. I am a Captain in the US Army, and I felt a deep connection to both the General and the Soldier-prisoner. I really want to use this to help frame a discussion with some of my fellow troops and officers.

However, after searching Google relentlessly for a source or a book about this, all I could come up with is one book by E.L. Spears. I plan to order the book, but it is going to be about two weeks before I will see it (I am stationed in Germany).

Is there any way you gents can help me track down a source for this story, and perhaps a book? If anyone here knows a lot about it, reference and background would be awesome.

Thanks!