The Story of a Conscience Review - Representations of the ACW

"been given corresponding discretionary* powers...because of his distance from the main army, the precarious nature of his communications and the lawless character of the enemy's irregular troops infesting that region."
                - implies that in extreme circumstances an officer may be given powers which allow him to do things that are required without higher authority.

“To a few residents of known loyalty, with whom it was desirable to trade, and of whose services in various ways he sometimes availed himself, he had given written passes admitting them within his lines.”
                - some citizens (those who were loyal and were needed for their services were allowed behind the Union lines. I assume that the Confederates practiced this as well.

“made an order that any one so abusing it would be summarily** shot.”
                - a civilian who was found abusing the power given to them by the officer (Captain Hartroy) would be shot

“’It is the hand of a traitor and spy… let us go to camp; you shall not die until to-morrow morning.’”
                - To be a traitor is lowly and both traitors and spies are punished by death.

"You had only to step from the car and leave me to take your place before the firing-squad... You pitied my fatigue. You let me sleep...you gently waked me."
                - there are noble people within war that risk their lives to save others from embarrassment or death.

"sound of a volley of musketry...the single pistol shot which Captain Hartroy renounced the life in which conscience could no longer keep."
"he was buried like the deserter and spy, without military honors; and in the solemn shadow of the mountain which knows no more of war the two sleep well in long-forgotten graves."
                - guilt could cause men/soldiers to commit their own lives to the silence of death.

Summary: A man (Captain Hartroy) commits suicide because he sent another man (Dramer Brune) to execution who had previously saved him (Hartroy) from execution. This story represents the ruthlessness of the army and the guilt a man may feel when he kills someone and the lengths he will go to to relieve himself of that guilt.

*for any use or purpose one chooses
**in a prompt or direct manner; without notice