Why is the man standing at the end of the bridge in the beginning in occurrence at owl creek bridge?

In the beginning of "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," the man standing at the end of the bridge, Peyton Farquhar, is about to be executed by hanging. He is a Confederate sympathizer caught attempting to sabotage Union efforts during the Civil War. The scene establishes the tension and foreboding of his situation, setting the stage for the exploration of his thoughts and perceptions in the moments leading up to his death. This moment serves as a catalyst for the story's exploration of time, consciousness, and the blurred lines between reality and illusion.